Amylase variants

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to variants (mutants) of polypeptides, in particular Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent alpha-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca 2+  dependency, specific activity, and solubility, in particular under production conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT/DK01/00144 filed Mar. 7, 2001 (the international application was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English) and claims, under 35 U.S.C. 119, priority or the benefit of Danish application nos. PA 2000 00376 and PA 2001 00303 filed Mar. 8, 2000 and Feb. 23, 2001, respectively, and U.S. provisional application Nos. 60/189,857, and 60/271,382 filed Mar. 15, 2000 and Feb. 26, 2001, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to variants (mutants) of parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent alpha-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability pH, /activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca²⁺ dependency, specific activity, and solubility in particular under production and application conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Alpha-Amylases (alpha-1,4-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases, E.C. 3.2.1.1) constitute a group of enzymes, which catalyze hydrolysis of starch and other linear and branched 1,4-glucosidic oligo- and polysaccharides.

[0004] In modern and industrial biotechnology high protein concentrations are achieved during fermentation, purification, recovery and in product formulation.

[0005] During the fermentation the protein concentration depend on the host cell used. In industrial processes the protein concentration typically lies from above 0.1 g/liter fermentation broth. For high yield recombinant production of alpha-amylases in Bacillus sp. the protein concentration may be as high as 250 g/liter fermentation broth. After purification the protein concentration may reach levels of about 1000 g/liter.

[0006] Such high concentrations leads to an undesirable precipitation resulting in lose of active protein. The tendency today is towards products of increasing strength, which make the ability to maintain the enzyme in solution of increasing importance. Often up-concentration of a protein solutions results in protein precipitates, which are difficult to dissolve into active protein.

[0007] Thus, it is the object of this application to provide alpha-amylases with altered properties as defined below, in particular increased solubility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide Termamyl-like amylases which variants in comparison to the corresponding parent alpha-amylase, i.e., un-mutated alpha-amylase, has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent alpha-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca²⁺ dependency, specific activity, and solubility, in particular increased solubility under production conditions.

[0009] Nomenclature

[0010] In the present description and claims, the conventional one-letter and three-letter codes for amino acid residues are used. For ease of reference, alpha-amylase variants of the invention are described by use of the following nomenclature:

[0011] Original amino acid(s): position(s): substituted amino acid(s)

[0012] According to this nomenclature, for instance the substitution of alanine for asparagine in position 30 is shown as:

[0013] Ala30Asn or A30N

[0014] a deletion of alanine in the same position is shown as:

[0015] Ala30* or A30*

[0016] and insertion of an additional amino acid residue, such as lysine, is shown as:

[0017] Ala30AlaLys or A30AK

[0018] A deletion of a consecutive stretch of amino acid residues, such as amino acid residues 30-33, is indicated as (30-33)* or Δ(A30-N33).

[0019] Where a specific alpha-amylase contains a “deletion” in comparison with other alpha-amylases and an insertion is made in such a position this is indicated as:

[0020] *36Asp or *36D

[0021] for insertion of an aspartic acid in position 36.

[0022] Multiple mutations are separated by plus signs, i.e.:

[0023] Ala30Asp+Glu34Ser or A30N+E34S

[0024] representing mutations in positions 30 and 34 substituting alanine and glutamic acid for asparagine and serine, respectively.

[0025] When one or more alternative amino acid residues may be inserted in a given position it is indicated as

[0026] A30N,E or

[0027] A30N or A30E

[0028] Furthermore, when a position suitable for modification is identified herein without any specific modification being suggested, it is to be understood that any amino acid residue may be substituted for the amino acid residue present in the position. Thus, for instance, when a modification of an alanine in position 30 is mentioned, but not specified, it is to be understood that the alanine may be deleted or substituted for any other amino acid, i.e., any one of:

[0029] R,N,D,A,C,Q,E,G,H,I,L,K,M,F,P,S,T,W,Y,V.

[0030] Further, “A30X” means any one of the following substitutions: A30R, A30N, A30D, A30C, A30Q, A30E, A30G, A30H, A30I, A30L, A30K, A30M, A30F, A30P, A30S, A30T, A30W, A30Y, or A30 V; or in short: A30R,N,D,C,Q,E,G,H,I,L,K,M,F,P,S,T,W,Y,V.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show an alignment of the amino acid sequences of five parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylases. The numbers on the extreme left designate the respective amino acid sequences as follows:

[0032] 1: SEQ ID NO: 4 (SP722)

[0033] 2: SEQ ID NO: 2 (SP690)

[0034] 3: SEQ ID NO: 10 (BAN)

[0035] 4: SEQ ID NO: 8 (BLA)

[0036] 5: SEQ ID NO: 6 (BSG).

[0037]FIG. 2 shows a site-view of the unit cell of 4 enzyme molecules. Each molecule has 8 interacting zones.

[0038]FIG. 3 shows a top-view of the unit cell of 4 enzyme molecules.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The object of the present invention is to provide polypeptides, such as enzymes, in particular alpha-amylases, with an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent polypeptide: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca²⁺ dependency, specific activity, and solubility, in particular under production conditions. The properties will be defined further below.

[0040] Polypeptide

[0041] Polypeptides according to the invention include proteins with biological activity, antimicrobial activity, and enzymatic activity.

[0042] Contemplated enzyme activities include proteases, amylases, CGTases, mannanases, maltogenic amylases, glucoamylases, carbohydrases, transferases, lyases, oxidoreductases, lipases.

[0043] In one prefered embodiment the enzyme is an alpha-amylase, in particular a Bacillus or Aspergillus alpha-amylase. In a preferred embodiment the Bacillus alpha-amylase is a Termamyl-like amylases.

[0044] Polypeptides with biological activity include, EPO, TPO, growth hormones, regulatory peptides, blood coagulation factores, antibodies etc.

[0045] Polypeptide with Altered Solubility

[0046] A protein (polypeptide) crystal is built up of systematic ordered identical units closely packed together in 3 dimensions. The unit cells may contain one or more protein molecules and a significant amount of water. Also ions like Calcium, Sodium, Chloride, Sulphate and larger molecules such as surfactants and substrates—present during crystal growth—can be identified in the tertiary structure. Although the single molecules and the single atoms are very small, the repeating array of identical units facilitates X-ray scattering and thus provide structure information, which can be used for protein engineering purposes.

[0047] Relative to crystals, precipitates and aggregates are smaller units and the single molecules are more disordered than in the crystals. Nevertheless some of the intermolecular interactions are the same as is found in a well ordered crystals and thus can the tertiary structure (3D structure) and intermolecular information be used for designing protein engineered alpha-amylase variants with altered properties, in particular with reduced tendency of precipitating, i.e., variant with increased solubility.

[0048] Due to the spherical and often irregular surface structures of proteins, large holes in the unit cell exist, which are occupied by more disordered solvents like water. In fact, the large majority of the protein surface is covered with layers of water, which is one reason why structures of proteins solved by X-ray crystallography are the same as those for proteins in solution. Only at a few areas the protein molecules are in direct contact with each other, but also solvent mediated contacts function as the “glue” that binds the crystal together.

[0049] In general the solubility of proteins is affected by organic solvents, salts like ammonium sulphate, NaCl and CaCl₂, and by pH change altering the surface charge of the molecule. These factors are considered both for enzyme production to keep the enzyme in solution and for crystallography experiment to grow useful crystals. Large symmetric crystals are grown by slow increase in protein concentration or by altering the protein surface thereby enhancing the inter-molecular contacts.

[0050] Not all proteins crystallise in a form usefull for X-ray crystallography determination methods, but based on existing tertiary structure accurate models can be build if the homology between the template molecule and the molecule of interest is high enough.

[0051] When homologous polypeptides, such as enzymes, in particular Termamyl-like alpha-amylases (defined below), are compared on a tertiary structural basis, the large majority of differences are found on the surface of the molecule.

[0052] Despite that, the inventors found that surface residues identified to be involved—directly or indirectly through water molecules—in crystal formations for the Termamyl-like amylase (SP722 disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 4) is also playing a key role for crystallisation of other Termamyl-like amylases (defined below).

[0053] Below is described one example of modelling a tertialy structure of one Termamyl-like alpha-alpha from another Termamyl-like alpha-amiase structure (SP722 structure disclosed in APPENDIX 1).

[0054] It is to be understood that the concept of the invention and the below described modelling method according to the invention can generally be extrapolated to all polypeptides, proteins, in particular enzymes, such as alpha-amylases.

[0055] The Tertiary Structure of SP722 and Modelling The Tertiary Structures of Another Termamyl-like alpha-amylase.

[0056] Mutants of alpha-amylases of the present invention have been found based on the tertiary structure shown in APPENDIX 1 of SP722 (SEQ ID NO: 4). Mutants of other polypeptides may be found based on other tertiary structures.

[0057] Crystals of the alkaline Termamyl-like alpha-amylase (SP722) (shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 and also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,531) were obtained by the hanging drop method (well-known in the art), and the tertiary structure (3D-structure) is disclosed in APPENDIX 1.

[0058] The unit cell was found to contain 4 enzyme molecules and each molecule has 8 interacting zones (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Two zones have been identified on the side of the enzyme surrounding the active site and one large area is found on the backside of the alpha-amylase relative to the active site. There are further two interaction zones on the sides and an interaction side at the bottom and one at the top of the molecule making top-to-bottom interactions.

[0059] As can be seen from FIG. 2 the two interaction zones surrounding the active site is interacting with the same two areas on an anti-parallel neighbour molecule. Likewise the backside zone is in contact with the backside zone on a third anti-parallel amylase molecule although all contacts here water mediated. It can also be seen from the FIG. 2 and 3 that the interacting areas are spread all over the molecule.

[0060] A model of another alkaline Termamyl-like amylase, AA560 has been build based on the SP722 tertiary structure disclosed in APPENDIX 1. AA560 alpha-amylase is about 87% identical to the template amylase (SP722) and the alignment contains no insertion or deletions. Due to the high homology (identity), the same symmetry and the same crystal interactions, the same interaction zones on the protein surface are involved in crystallization and precipitation at the increasing protein concentrations, which are reached during production, i.e., starting from Trio fermentation stage through the purification stage (see Background section).

[0061] Mutations in these interaction zones were constructed, the enzyme expressed and purified, and the protein solubility was measured under different conditions as described in Example 8 and 9 using the method described in the “Materials and Methods” section.

[0062] The findings of the present invention may be applied on Termamyl-like amylases being at least 60% identical, preferably at least 70% identical, more preferably 80% identical, even more preferably 85% identical, even more preferably 90% identical, even more 95% identical, even more 97% identical, even more 99% identical to the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase shown in SEQ ID NO: 12. In a preferably the findings may be used on alkaline Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, especially alkaline alpha-amylases of the same length, without additional amino residues or gaps in an aligned primary structure in comparison to SP722 (SEQ ID NO: 4 shown as number 1 in the alignment in FIG. 1). Especially, the finding may be used on the following alkaline Termamyl-like alpha-amylases: SP690 (SEQ ID NO: 2), SP722 (SEQ ID NO: 4), AA560 (SEQ ID NO: 12), #707 alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 13), the KSM APE 1378 alpha-amylase disclosed in KSM AP1378 alpha-amylase is disclosed in WO 97/00324, or fragment or truncated forms thereof. The latter mentioned alkaline alpha-amylases have very similar tertiary crystal structure around the above-mentioned interactions zones, and have the same primary structure length 485 amino acids.

[0063] Contrary hereto, for instance, Termamyl (shown as sequence number 4 in the alignment in FIG. 1) lacks two amino acid residues (positions 1 and 2); has gaps in positions 174 and 181-182; and has three additional amino acid residues in positions 378-381 when aligned with SP722.

[0064] BAN (shown as sequence number 3 in the alignment in FIG. 1) lacks five amino acid residues (positions 1-4 and 488); has gaps in positions 174 and 181-182; and has three additional amino acid residues in positions 378-381 if aligned with SP722.

[0065] BSG (shown as sequence number 5 in the alignment in FIG. 1) lacks one amino acid residues (position 1); and has 31 additional amino acid residues in positions 489-519 if aligned with SP722.

[0066] KSM-K36 and KSM-K38 (EP 1,022,334-A) lack five amino acid residues (positions 1 and 2) and has gaps in positions 174 and 181-182 when aligned with SP722.

[0067] AA180, AA20 and Amrk385 (Danish patent application no. PA 2000 00347 or PCT/DK01/00133) have one additional amino acid in position 261 when aligned with SP722.

[0068] Below it is described how to model a Termamyl-like alpha-amylase from another alpha-amylase. In Example 4 the modelling of AA560 from SP722 is described. This method can be exprepolated to other polypetides as for instance the above-mentioned.

[0069] Modelling of Termamyl-like Alpha-amylases

[0070] WO 96/23874 provides the tertiary structure (3D Structure), X-ray crystal structural data for a Termamyl-like alpha-amylase, which consists of the 300 N-terminal amino acid residues of the B. amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase (BAN™) and amino acids 301-483 of the C-terminal end of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 8). WO 96/23874 further describes methodology for designing (modelling), on the basis of an analysis of the structure of a parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase, variants of the parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase which exhibit altered properties relative to the parent.

[0071] Other Termamyl-like structures may be modelled in accordance with WO 96/23874, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0072] In connection with obtaining variant of the present invention the AA560 tertiary structure was designed (modelled) based on the tertiary structure of SP722 (disclosed in APPENDIX 1) as described in Example 1. The structure of other Termamyl-like alpha-amylases (e.g., those disclosed herein) may be built analogously.

[0073] Termamyl-like alpha-amylases

[0074] A number of alpha-amylases produced by Bacillus spp. are highly homologous (identical) on the amino acid level.

[0075] The identity of a number of Bacillus alpha-amylases can be found in the below Table 1: TABLE 1 Percent identity 707 AP1378 BAN BSG SP690 SP722 AA560 Termamyl 707 100.0 86.4 66.9 66.5 87.6 86.2 95.5 68.1 AP1378 86.4 100.0 67.1 68.1 95.1 86.6 86.0 69.4 BAN 66.9 67.1 100.0 65.6 67.1 68.8 66.9 80.7 BSG 66.5 68.1 65.6 100.0 67.9 67.1 66.3 65.4 SP690 87.6 95.1 67.1 67.9 100.0 87.2 87.0 69.2 SP722 86.2 86.6 68.8 67.1 87.2 100.0 86.8 70.8 AA560 95.5 86.0 66.9 66.3 87.0 86.8 100.0 68.3 Termamyl 68.1 69.4 80.7 65.4 69.2 70.8 68.3 100.0

[0076] For instance, the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 (commercially available as Termamyl™) has been found to be about 81% homologous with the B. amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 and about 65% homologous with the B. stearothermophilus alpha-amylase comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6. Further homologous alpha-amylases include SP690 and SP722 disclosed in WO 95/26397 and further depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4, respectively. Other amylases are the AA560 alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus sp. and shown in SEQ ID NO: 12, and the #707 alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus sp., shown in SEQ ID NO: 13 and described by Tsukamoto et al., Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 151 (1988), pp. 25-31.

[0077] The KSM AP1378 alpha-amylase is disclosed in WO 97/00324 (from KAO Corporation). Also the K38 and K38 alpha-amylases disclosed in EP 1,022,334 are contemplated according to the invention.

[0078] Still further homologous alpha-amylases include the alpha-amylase produced by the B. licheniformis strain described in EP 0252666 (ATCC 27811), and the alpha-amylases identified in WO 91/00353 and WO 94/18314. Other commercial Termamyl-like alpha-amylases are comprised in the products sold under the following tradenames: Optitherm™ and Takatherm™ (available from Solvay); Maxamyl™ (available from Gist-brocades/Genencor), Spezym AA™ and Spezyme Delta AA™ (available from Genencor), and Keistase™ (available from Daiwa), Purastar™ ST 5000E, PURASTRA™ HPAM L (from Genencor Int.).

[0079] Because of the substantial homology found between these alpha-amylases, they are considered to belong to the same class of alpha-amylases, namely the class of “Termamyl-like alpha-amylases”.

[0080] Accordingly, in the present context, the term “Termamyl-like alpha-amylase” is intended to indicate an alpha-amylase, which, at the amino acid level, exhibits a substantial identity to Termamyl™, i.e., the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8.

[0081] In other words, all the following alpha-amylases, which has the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13 are considered to be “Termamyl-like alpha-amylase”. Other Termamyl-like alpha-amylases are alpha-amylases i) which displays at least 60%, such as at least 70%, e.g., at least 75%, or at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 97%, at least 99% homology with at least one of said amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 13, and/or ii) is encoded by a DNA sequence which hybridizes to the DNA sequences encoding the above-specified alpha-amylases which are apparent from SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and of the present specification (which encoding sequences encode the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, respectively).

[0082] In connection with property i), the homology may be determined as the degree of identity between the two sequences indicating a derivation of the first sequence from the second. The homology may suitably be determined by means of computer programs known in the art such as GAP provided in the GCG program package (described above). Thus, Gap GCGv8 may be used with the following default parameters: GAP creation penalty of 5.0 and GAP extension penalty of 0.3, default scoring matrix, for nucleic sequences and 3.0 and 0.1, respectively, from protein sequences. GAP uses the method of Needleman/Wunsch/Sellers to make alignments.

[0083] A structural alignment between Termamyl (SEQ ID NO: 8) and another Termamyl-like alpha-amylase may be used to identify equivalent/corresponding positions in other Termamyl-like alpha-amylases. One method of obtaining said structural alignment is to use the Pile Up programme from the GCG package using default values of gap penalties, i.e., a gap creation penalty of 3.0 and gap extension penalty of 0.1. Other structural alignment methods include the hydrophobic cluster analysis (Gaboriaud et al., (1987), FEBS LETTERS 224, pp. 149-155) and reverse threading (Huber, T; Torda, A E, PROTEIN SCIENCE Vol. 7, No.1 pp. 142-149 (1998).

[0084] Hybridisation

[0085] The oligonucleotide probe used in the characterisation of the polypeptide, such as the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase in accordance with property ii) above may suitably be prepared on the basis of the full or partial nucleotide or amino acid sequence of the alpha-amylase in question.

[0086] Suitable conditions for testing hybridisation involve pre-soaking in 5×SSC and prehybridizing for 1 hour at ˜40° C. in a solution of 20% formamide, 5×Denhardt's solution, 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, and 50 mg of denatured sonicated calf thymus DNA, followed by hybridisation in the same solution supplemented with 100 mM ATP for 18 hours at ˜40° C., is followed by three times washing of the filter in 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 40° C. for 30 minutes (low stringency), preferred at 50° C. (medium stringency), more preferably at 65° C. (high stringency), even more preferably at ˜75° C. (very high stringency). More details about the hybridisation method can be found in Sambrook et al., Molecular_Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor, 1989.

[0087] In the present context, “derived from” is intended not only to indicate an alpha-amylase produced or producible by a strain of the organism in question, but also an alpha-amylase encoded by a DNA sequence isolated from such strain and produced in a host organism transformed with said DNA sequence. Finally, the term is intended to indicate an alpha-amylase, which is encoded by a DNA sequence of synthetic and/or cDNA origin and which has the identifying characteristics of the alpha-amylase in question. The term is also intended to indicate that the parent alpha-amylase may be a variant of a naturally occurring alpha-amylase, i.e., a variant, which is the result of a modification (insertion, substitution, deletion) of one or more amino acid residues of the naturally occurring alpha-amylase.

[0088] Parent Termamyl-like Alpha-amylases

[0089] According to the invention all Termamy-like alpha-amylases, as defined above, may be used as the parent (i.e., backbone) alpha-amylase. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the parent alpha-amylase is derived from B. licheniformis, e.g., one of those referred to above, such as the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 10. Especially preferred parent alpha-amylases are the SP722 alpha-amylase and the AA560 alpha-amylase. In one embodiment the parent alpha-amyase has one or more of the following mutations/substitutions: Delta (R81-G182); Delta (D183-G184); Delta (D183-G184)+N195F; RR181 Q+N445Q+K446N; Delta (D183-G184)+R181Q.

[0090] Parent hybrid Termamyl-like Alpha-amylases

[0091] The parent alpha-amylase (i.e., backbone alpha-amylase) may also be a hybrid alpha-amylase, i.e., an alpha-amylase, which comprises a combination of partial amino acid sequences derived from at least two alpha-amylases.

[0092] The parent hybrid alpha-amylase may be one, which on the basis of amino acid homology (identity) and/or DNA hybridization (as defined above) can be determined to belong to the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase family. In this case, the hybrid alpha-amylase is typically composed of at least one part of a Termamyl-like alpha-amylase and part(s) of one or more other alpha-amylases selected from Termamyl-like alpha-amylases or non-Termamyl-like alpha-amylases of microbial (bacterial or fungal) and/or mammalian origin.

[0093] Thus, the parent hybrid alpha-amylase may comprise a combination of partial amino acid sequences deriving from at least two Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, or from at least one Termamyl-like and at least one non-Termamyl-like bacterial alpha-amylase, or from at least one Termamyl-like and at least one fungal alpha-amylase. The Termamyl-like alpha-amylase from which a partial amino acid sequence derives, may be any of those specific Termamyl-like alpha-amylase referred to herein.

[0094] For instance, the parent alpha-amylase may comprise a C-terminal part of an alpha-amylase derived from a strain of B. licheniformis, and a N-terminal part of an alpha-amylase derived from a strain of B. amyloliquefaciens or from a strain of B. stearothermophilus. For instance, the parent α-amylase may comprise at least 430 amino acid residues of the C-terminal part of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase, and may, e.g., comprise a) an amino acid segment corresponding to the 37 N-terminal amino acid residues of the B. amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 and an amino acid segment corresponding to the 445 C-terminal amino acid residues of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8, or a hybrid Termamyl-like alpha-amylase being identical to the Termamyl sequence, i.e., the Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase shown in SEQ ID NO: 8, except that the N-terminal 35 amino acid residues (of the mature protein) has been replaced by the N-terminal 33 residues of BAN (mature protein), i.e., the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase shown in SEQ ID NO: 10; or b) an amino acid segment corresponding to the 68 N-terminal amino acid residues of the B. stearothermnophilus α-amylase having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 and an amino acid segment corresponding to the 415 C-terminal amino acid residues of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8.

[0095] Another suitable parent hybrid alpha-amylase is the one previously described in WO 96/23874 (from Novo Nordisk) constituting the N-terminus of BAN, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase (amino acids 1-300 of the mature protein) and the C-terminus from Termamyl (amino acids 301-483 of the mature protein).

[0096] Altered Properties

[0097] The following discusses the relationship between mutations, which are present in variants of the invention, and desirable alterations in properties (relative to those a parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase), which may result therefrom.

[0098] As mentioned above the invention relates to Termamyl-like alpha-amylases with altered properties, in particular under production conditions.

[0099] Parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase specifically contemplated in connection with going through the specifically contemplated altered properties are the above mentioned parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase and parent hydrid Termamyl-like alpha-amylases. The SP722 alpha-amylase is used as the starting point, but corresponding positions in, e.g., the Termamyl, BSG, BAN, AA560, SP690, AA180, KSM AP1378, and #707, K38, and K36 should be understood as disclosed too.

[0100] In a preferred embodiment the variant of the invention has increased solubility, in particular under washing or cleaning conditions.

[0101] In an aspect the invention relates to variant with altered properties as mentioned above.

[0102] In the first aspect a variant of a parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase, comprising an alteration at one or more positions (using SEQ ID NO: 12 for the amino acid numbering) selected from the group consisting of:

[0103] R28, R118, N174; R181, G182, D183, G184, G186, W189, N195, M202, Y298, N299, K302, S303, N306, R310, N314; R320, H324, E345, Y396, R400, W439, R444, N445, K446, Q449, R458, N471, and N484,

[0104] wherein

[0105] (a) the alteration(s) are independently

[0106] (i) an insertion of an amino acid downstream of the amino acid which occupies the position,

[0107] (ii) a deletion of the amino acid which occupies the position, or

[0108] (iii) a substitution of the amino acid which occupies the position with a different amino acid,

[0109] (b) the variant has alpha-amylase activity and

[0110] (c) each position corresponds to a position of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12.

[0111] In SP722 (SEQ ID NO: 4) such corresponding positions are: R28; N94; L118; N125; Q174; R181; G182; D183; G184; A186; W189; N195, M202, Y298; N299; N302; S303; N306; A310; N314; K320; H324; Q345; F396, T400, W439, Q444; N445, K446, Q449, K458; N471, and K484.

[0112] In a preferred embodiment the variant of the invention (using SEQ ID NO: 12 for the numbering) has one or more of the following mutations/substitutions:

[0113] Delta G184; Delta (R181-G182); Delta (D183-G184); R28N,K; S94K; R118K; N125A,R,K; N174D; R181Q,E,K; G186R; W189R,K; N195F; M202L; Y298H,F; N299A; K302R, S303Q, N306G,D,R,K; R310A,K,Q,E,H,D,N; N314D; R320K; H324K; E345R,D,K,N; Y396F; R400T,K; W439R; R444K; N445K,Q; K446N; Q449E; R458K; N471 E; N484Q.

[0114] Preferred double, triple and multi-mutations—using SEQ ID NO: 12 as the basis for the numbering—include:

[0115] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q;

[0116] Delta(D183-G184)+G186R;

[0117] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F;

[0118] Delta(D183-G184)+M202L;

[0119] Delta(D183-G184)+G186R+N195F;

[0120] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R400T;

[0121] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+W439R;

[0122] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+Q449E;

[0123] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N484Q;

[0124] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+K446N;

[0125] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0126] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+Q449E;

[0127] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N471E;

[0128] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+H324K;

[0129] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+Y396F;

[0130] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+K446D;

[0131] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q;

[0132] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181E;

[0133] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N;

[0134] N445Q+K446N;

[0135] N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0136] N445Q+K446N+Q449E;

[0137] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N;

[0138] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+K446N;

[0139] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0140] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181E+N445Q+K446N;

[0141] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181E+K446N;

[0142] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181E+N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0143] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+Y243F;

[0144] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+V209I;

[0145] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+E212R;

[0146] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+M116R;

[0147] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+K142H+D144H+R158H;

[0148] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+K142H+D144H;

[0149] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R158H;

[0150] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+E345R;

[0151] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+W189R;

[0152] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+Y298H;

[0153] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N299A;

[0154] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+K302R+S303Q;

[0155] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N306G;

[0156] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+Y298H+N299A+K302R+S303Q+N306G;

[0157] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N125A;

[0158] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N125R;

[0159] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R310A;

[0160] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R310A+Q311N;

[0161] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R320K;

[0162] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+Q319K+R320D;

[0163] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N306A; 5Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+K302N;

[0164] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+E345N;

[0165] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+Y298F;

[0166] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R28N;

[0167] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R28N+R310A;

[0168] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N128D+N306D;

[0169] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N128D;

[0170] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N306D;

[0171] N174D+N314D;

[0172] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N306D+R310H+E345D;

[0173] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+W189R+S94K;

[0174] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+W189R+S94K;

[0175] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+S94K;

[0176] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181K+N125R;

[0177] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181K+N125K;

[0178] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R118K+R320K+R458K;

[0179] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+R320K+R458K;

[0180] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N306G;

[0181] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+W189R;

[0182] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N125K+R444K+N445K

[0183] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N125K+R320K+R458K;

[0184] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N125R+R320K+R458K;

[0185] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+S94K+R118K+R320K+R458K;

[0186] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N306R+R320K+R458K;

[0187] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R118K+R320K+R458K+R444K+N445K;

[0188] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+S94K+R118K+N306R+R320K+R458K;

[0189] Contemplated variants include the specific ones mentioned in the examples and the above mention mutations in further combination with one or more of the mutations/substitution: Delta (D183-G184); N195F; R181Q; G186R; M202L; V206F,L,M; N193S,T,P

[0190] Increased Solubility

[0191] All the above-mentioned mutations result in Termamyl-like alpha-amylase variants with altered solubility when used in any alpha-amylase within the group of Termamyl-like alpha-amylase as defined above.

[0192] Thus, in a preferred embodiment the variant of the invention is a variant of a parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase, which has increased solubility (as defined) in comparison to the parent Termemyl-like alpha-amylase, comprising an alteration at one or more positions (using SEQ ID NO: 12 for the amino acid numbering) selected from the group of:

[0193] R28, R118, N174; R181, G182, D183, G184, G186, W189, N195, M202, Y298, N299, K302, S303, N306, R310, N314; R320, H324, E345, Y396, R400, W439, R444, N445, K446, Q449, R458, N471, N484,

[0194] wherein

[0195] (a) the alteration(s) are independently

[0196] (i) an insertion of an amino acid downstream of the amino acid which occupies the position,

[0197] (ii) a deletion of the amino acid which occupies the position, or

[0198] (iii) a substitution of the amino acid which occupies the position with a different amino acid,

[0199] (b) the variant has alpha-amylase activity and

[0200] (c) each position corresponds to a position of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12.

[0201] In a preferred embodiment a variant of the invention with increased solubility in comparison to the parent alpha-amylase has one or more of the following substitutions:

[0202] Delta G184; Delta (R181-G182); Delta (D183-G184); R28N,K; S94K; R118K; N125A,R,K; N174D; R181Q,E,K; G186R; W189R,K; N195F; M202L; Y298H,F; N299A; K302R, S303Q, N306G,D,R,K; R310A,K,Q,E,H,D,N; N314D; R320K; H324K; E345R,D,K,N; Y396F; R400T,K; W439R; R444K; N445K,Q; K446N; Q449E; R458K; N471E; N484Q.

[0203] In a more preferred embodiment variant of the invention with increased solubility (determined using one of the methods described in the “Materials and Methods” section)—using SEQ ID NO: 12 as the basis for the numbering—include:

[0204] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q;

[0205] Delta(D183-G184)+G186R;

[0206] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F;

[0207] Delta(D183-G184)+M202L;

[0208] Delta(D183-G184)+G186R+N195F;

[0209] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R400T;

[0210] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+W439R;

[0211] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+Q449E;

[0212] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N484Q;

[0213] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+K446N;

[0214] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0215] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+Q449E;

[0216] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N471E;

[0217] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+H324K;

[0218] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+Y396F;

[0219] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+K446D;

[0220] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q;

[0221] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181E;

[0222] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N;

[0223] N445Q+K446N;

[0224] N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0225] N445Q+K446N+Q449E;

[0226] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N;

[0227] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+K446N;

[0228] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0229] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181E+N445Q+K446N;

[0230] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181E+K446N;

[0231] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181E+N445Q+K446N+N484E;

[0232] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+Y243F;

[0233] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N445Q+K446N+V209I;

[0234] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+E212R;

[0235] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+M116R;

[0236] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+K142H+D144H+R158H;

[0237] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+K142H+D144H;

[0238] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R158H;

[0239] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+E345R;

[0240] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+W189R;

[0241] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+Y298H;

[0242] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N299A;

[0243] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+K302R+S303Q;

[0244] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N306G;

[0245] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+Y298H+N299A+K302R+S303Q+N306G;

[0246] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N125A;

[0247] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N125R;

[0248] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R310A;

[0249] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R310A+Q311N;

[0250] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R320K;

[0251] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+Q319K+R320D;

[0252] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N306A;

[0253] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+K302N;

[0254] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+E345N;

[0255] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+Y298F;

[0256] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R28N;

[0257] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+R28N+R310A;

[0258] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+NR28D+N306D;

[0259] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N128D;

[0260] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N445Q+K446N+N306D;

[0261] N174D+N314D;

[0262] Delta (D183-G184)+N195F+N306D+R310H+E345D;

[0263] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+W189R+S94K;

[0264] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+W189R+S94K;

[0265] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+S94K;

[0266] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181K+N125R;

[0267] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181K+N125K;

[0268] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R118K+R320K+R458K;

[0269] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+R320K+R458K;

[0270] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+N306G;

[0271] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R181Q+W189R;

[0272] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N125K+R444K+N445K

[0273] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N125K+R320K+R458K;

[0274] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N125R+R320K+R458K;

[0275] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+S94K+R118K+R320K+R458K;

[0276] Delta(D183-G184)+R181Q+N195F+R118K+N306R+R320K+R458K;

[0277] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+R118K+R320K+R458K+R444K+N445K;

[0278] Delta(D183-G184)+N195F+S94K+R118K+N306R+R320K+R458K;

[0279] Other combinations according to the invention include the specific one mentioned in the examples and one or more of the following substitutions: N195F; R181Q; G186R; M202L; V206F,L,M, N193P.

[0280] Stability

[0281] In the context of the present invention, mutations (including amino acid substitutions and deletions) of importance with respect to achieving altered stability, in particular improved stability (i.e., higher or lower), at especially high pH (i.e., pH 8-10.5) include any of the mutations listed in the in “Altered properties” section.

[0282] Ca²⁺ Stability

[0283] Altered Ca²⁺ stability means the stability of the enzyme under Ca²⁺ depletion has been improved, i.e., higher or lower stability. In the context of the present invention, mutations (including amino acid substitutions and deletions) of importance with respect to achieving altered Ca²⁺ stability, in particular improved Ca²⁺ stability, i.e., higher or lower stability, at especially high pH (i.e., pH 8-10.5) include any of the mutations listed in the in “Altered properties” section.

[0284] Specific Activity

[0285] In a further aspect of the present invention, important mutations (including amino acid substitutions and deletions) with respect to obtaining variants exhibiting altered specific activity, in particular increased or decreased specific activity, especially at temperatures from 10-60° C., preferably 20-50° C., especially 30-40° C., include any of the mutations listed in the in “Altered properties” section.

[0286] General Mutations in Variants of the Invention

[0287] The particularly interesting mutations (including amino acid substitutions and deletions) are those that increase the mobility around the active site of the enzyme. This is accomplished by changes that disrupt stabilizing interaction in the vicinity of the active site, i.e., within preferably 10 Å or 8 Å or 6 Å or 4 Å from any of the residues constituting the active site.

[0288] Examples are mutations that reduce the size of side chains, such as

[0289] Ala to Gly,

[0290] Val to Ala or Gly,

[0291] Ile or Leu to Val, Ala, or Gly

[0292] Thr to Ser.

[0293] Such mutations are expected to cause increased flexibility in the active site region either by the introduction of cavities or by the structural rearrangements that fill the space left by the mutation.

[0294] It may be preferred that a variant of the invention comprises one or more modifications in addition to those outlined above. Thus, it may be advantageous that one or more Proline residues present in the part of the alpha-amylase variant which is modified is/are replaced with a non-Proline residue which may be any of the possible, naturally occurring non-Proline residues, and which preferably is an Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Threonine, Valine or Leucine.

[0295] Analogously, it may be preferred that one or more Cysteine residues present among the amino acid residues with which the parent alpha-amylase is modified is/are replaced with a non-Cysteine residue such as Serine, Alanine, Threonine, Glycine, Valine or Leucine.

[0296] Furthermore, a variant of the invention may—either as the only modification or in combination with any of the above outlined modifications—be modified so that one or more Asp and/or Glu present in an amino acid fragment corresponding to the amino acid fragment 185-209 of SEQ ID NO: 10 is replaced by an Asn and/or Gln, respectively. Also of interest is the replacement, in the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase, of one or more of the Lys residues present in an amino acid fragment corresponding to the amino acid fragment 185-209 of SEQ ID NO: 10 by an Arg.

[0297] It will be understood that the present invention encompasses variants incorporating two or more of the above outlined modifications.

[0298] Furthermore, it may be advantageous to introduce mutations in one or more of the following positions (using SEQ ID NO: 10 (Termamyl™) for the numbering): M15, V128, A111, H133, W138, T149, M197, N188, A209, A210, H405, T412, in particular the following single, double or triple or multi mutations:

[0299] M15X, in particular M15T,L;

[0300] V128X, in particular V128E;

[0301] H133X, in particular H133Y;

[0302] N188X, in particular N188S,T,P;

[0303] M197X, in particular M197T,L;

[0304] A209X, in particular A209V;

[0305] M197T/W138F; M197T/W138Y; M15T/H133Y/N188S;

[0306] M15N128E/H133Y/N188S; E119C/S130C; D124C/R127C; H133Y/T149I;

[0307] G475R, H133Y/S187D; H133Y/A209V;

[0308] In AA560 this corresponds to

[0309] L17X, in particular L17T;

[0310] E130X;

[0311] Y135X;

[0312] W140X, In particular W140F,Y;

[0313] T193X; in particular S,P;

[0314] M202X, in particular M202T,L;

[0315] V214X;

[0316] Contemplated combinations thereof, include

[0317] M202T/W140F; M202T/W140Y; L17T/T193S;

[0318] L17T/N193P; E121C/S132C; N126C/Q129C; T151I;

[0319] G480R.

[0320] Methods for Preparing Alpha-amylase Variants of the Invention

[0321] Several methods for introducing mutations into genes are known in the art. After a brief discussion of the cloning of alpha-amylase-encoding DNA sequences, methods for generating mutations at specific sites within the alpha-amylase-encoding sequence will be discussed.

[0322] Cloning a DNA Sequence Encoding an Alpha-amylase

[0323] The DNA sequence encoding a parent alpha-amylase may be isolated from any cell or microorganism producing the alpha-amylase in question, using various methods well known in the art. First, a genomic DNA and/or cDNA library should be constructed using chromosomal DNA or messenger RNA from the organism that produces the alpha-amylase to be studied. Then, if the amino acid sequence of the alpha-amylase is known, homologous, labeled oligonucleotide probes may be synthesized and used to identify alpha-amylase-encoding clones from a genomic library prepared from the organism in question. Alternatively, a labeled oligonucleotide probe containing sequences homologous to a known alpha-amylase gene could be used as a probe to identify alpha-amylase-encoding clones, using hybridization and washing conditions of lower stringency.

[0324] Yet another method for identifying alpha-amylase-encoding clones would involve inserting fragments of genomic DNA into an expression vector, such as a plasmid, transforming alpha-amylase-negative bacteria with the resulting genomic DNA library, and then plating the transformed bacteria onto agar containing a substrate for alpha-amylase, thereby allowing clones expressing the alpha-amylase to be identified.

[0325] Alternatively, the DNA sequence encoding the enzyme may be prepared synthetically by established standard methods, e.g., the phosphoroamidite method described by S. L. Beaucage and M. H. Caruthers, Tetrahedron Letters 22, 1981, pp. 1859-1869 or the method described by Matthes et al., The EMBO J. 3, 1984, pp. 801-805. In the phosphoroamidite method, oligonucleotides are synthesized, e.g., in an automatic DNA synthesizer, purified, annealed, ligated and cloned in appropriate vectors.

[0326] Finally, the DNA sequence may be of mixed genomic and synthetic origin, mixed synthetic and cDNA origin or mixed genomic and cDNA origin, prepared by ligating fragments of synthetic, genomic or cDNA origin (as appropriate, the fragments corresponding to various parts of the entire DNA sequence), in accordance with standard techniques. The DNA sequence may also be prepared by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers, for instance as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202 or R. K. Saiki et al., Science 239, 1988, pp. 487-491.

[0327] Expression of Alpha-amylase Variants

[0328] According to the invention, a DNA sequence encoding the variant produced by methods described above, or by any alternative methods known in the art, can be expressed, in enzyme form, using an expression vector which typically includes control sequences encoding a promoter, operator, ribosome binding site, translation initiation signal, and, optionally, a repressor gene or various activator genes.

[0329] The recombinant expression vector carrying the DNA sequence encoding an alpha-amylase variant of the invention may be any vector that may conveniently be subjected to recombinant DNA procedures, and the choice of vector will often depend on the host cell into which it is to be introduced. Thus, the vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vector which exists as an extrachromosomal entity, the replication of which is independent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a plasmid, a bacteriophage or an extrachromosomal element, minichromosome or an artificial chromosome. Alternatively, the vector may be one which, when introduced into a host cell, is integrated into the host cell genome and replicated together with the chromosome(s) into which it has been integrated.

[0330] In the vector, the DNA sequence should be operably connected to a suitable promoter sequence. The promoter may be any DNA sequence, which shows transcriptional activity in the host cell of choice and may be derived from genes encoding proteins either homologous or heterologous to the host cell. Examples of suitable promoters for directing the transcription of the DNA sequence encoding an alpha-amylase variant of the invention, especially in a bacterial host, are the promoter of the lac operon of E. coli, the Streptomyces coelicolor agarase gene dagA promoters, the promoters of the Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL), the promoters of the Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), the promoters of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase (amyQ), the promoters of the Bacillus subtilis xyIA and xyIB genes etc. For transcription in a fungal host, examples of useful promoters are those derived from the gene encoding A. oryzae TAKA amylase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, A. niger neutral alpha-amylase, A. niger acid stable alpha-amylase, A. niger glucoamylase, Rhizomucor miehei lipase, A. oryzae alkaline protease, A. oryzae triose phosphate isomerase or A. nidulans acetamidase.

[0331] The expression vector of the invention may also comprise a suitable transcription terminator and, in eukaryotes, polyadenylation sequences operably connected to the DNA sequence encoding the alpha-amylase variant of the invention. Termination and polyadenylation sequences may suitably be derived from the same sources as the promoter.

[0332] The vector may further comprise a DNA sequence enabling the vector to replicate in the host cell in question. Examples of such sequences are the origins of replication of plasmids pUC19, pACYC177, pUB110, pE194, pAMB1 and pIJ702.

[0333] The vector may also comprise a selectable marker, e.g. a gene the product of which complements a defect in the host cell, such as the dal genes from B. subtilis or B. licheniformis, or one which confers antibiotic resistance such as ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol or tetracyclin resistance. Furthermore, the vector may comprise Aspergillus selection markers such as amdS, argB, niaD and sC, a marker giving rise to hygromycin resistance, or the selection may be accomplished by co-transformation, e.g., as described in WO 91/17243.

[0334] While intracellular expression may be advantageous in some respects, e.g., when using certain bacteria as host cells, it is generally preferred that the expression is extracellular. In general, the Bacillus α-amylases mentioned herein comprises a preregion permitting secretion of the expressed protease into the culture medium. If desirable, this preregion may be replaced by a different preregion or signal sequence, conveniently accomplished by substitution of the DNA sequences encoding the respective preregions.

[0335] The procedures used to ligate the DNA construct of the invention encoding an alpha-amylase variant, the promoter, terminator and other elements, respectively, and to insert them into suitable vectors containing the information necessary for replication, are well known to persons skilled in the art (cf., for instance, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor, 1989).

[0336] The cell of the invention, either comprising a DNA construct or an expression vector of the invention as defined above, is advantageously used as a host cell in the recombinant production of an alpha-amylase variant of the invention. The cell may be transformed with the DNA construct of the invention encoding the variant, conveniently by integrating the DNA construct (in one or more copies) in the host chromosome. This integration is generally considered to be an advantage as the DNA sequence is more likely to be stably maintained in the cell. Integration of the DNA constructs into the host chromosome may be performed according to conventional methods, e.g., by homologous or heterologous recombination. Alternatively, the cell may be transformed with an expression vector as described above in connection with the different types of host cells.

[0337] The cell of the invention may be a cell of a higher organism such as a mammal or an insect, but is preferably a microbial cell, e.g., a bacterial or a fungal (including yeast) cell. Examples of suitable bacteria are Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, or Streptomyces lividans or Streptomyces murinus, or gramnegative bacteria such as E. coli. The transformation of the bacteria may, for instance, be effected by protoplast transformation or by using competent cells in a manner known per se.

[0338] The yeast organism may favorably be selected from a species of Saccharomyces or Schizosaccharomyces, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The filamentous fungus may advantageously belong to a species of Aspergillus, e.g., Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus niger. Fungal cells may be transformed by a process involving protoplast formation and transformation of the protoplasts followed by regeneration of the cell wall in a manner known per se. A suitable procedure for transformation of Aspergillus host cells is described in EP 238 023.

[0339] In a yet further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of producing an alpha-amylase variant of the invention, which method comprises cultivating a host cell as described above under conditions conducive to the production of the variant and recovering the variant from the cells and/or culture medium.

[0340] The medium used to cultivate the cells may be any conventional medium suitable for growing the host cell in question and obtaining expression of the alpha-amylase variant of the invention. Suitable media are available from commercial suppliers or may be prepared according to published recipes (e.g., as described in catalogues of the American Type Culture Collection).

[0341] The alpha-amylase variant secreted from the host cells may conveniently be recovered from the culture medium by well-known procedures, including separating the cells from the medium by centrifugation or filtration, and precipitating proteinaceous components of the medium by means of a salt such as ammonium sulphate, followed by the use of chromatographic procedures such as ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, or the like.

[0342] Industrial Applications

[0343] The alpha-amylase variants of this invention possess valuable properties allowing for a variety of industrial applications. In particular, enzyme variants of the invention are applicable as a component in washing, dishwashing and hard surface cleaning detergent compositions. Variant of the invention with altered properties may be used for starch processes, in particular starch conversion, especially liquefaction of starch (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,590, EP patent publications Nos. 252 730 and 63 909, and WO 99/19467.

[0344] Further, variants of the invention are also particularly useful in the production of sweeteners and ethanol from starch, and/or for textile desizing.

[0345] Composition

[0346] In an aspect the invention relates to a composition comprising a variant of the invention. In an embodiment the composition of the invention comprises one or more other enzymes, including one or more selected from the group of such as a lipase, cutinase, protease, cellulase, mannanase, maltogenic amylase, CGTase, glucoamylase, peroxidase or laccase, and/or another alpha-amylase.

[0347] Detergent Compositions

[0348] As mentioned above, variants of the invention may suitably be incorporated in detergent compositions. Reference is made, for example, to WO 96/23874 and WO 97/07202 for further details concerning relevant ingredients of detergent compositions (such as laundry or dishwashing detergents), appropriate methods of formulating the variants in such detergent compositions, and for examples of relevant types of detergent compositions.

[0349] Detergent compositions comprising a variant of the invention may additionally comprise one or more other enzymes, such as a lipase, cutinase, protease, cellulase, mannanase, maltogenic amylase, CGTase, glucoamylase, peroxidase or laccase, and/or another alpha-amylase.

[0350] Alpha-amylase variants of the invention may be incorporated in detergents at conventionally employed concentrations. It is at present contemplated that a variant of the invention may be incorporated in an amount corresponding to 0.00001-10 mg (calculated as pure, active enzyme protein) of alpha-amylase per liter of wash/dishwash liquor using conventional dosing levels of detergent.

[0351] The invention also relates to a method of providing alpha-amylases with altered properties relative to the parent alpha-amylase, in particular solubility, especially increased solubility, substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, temperature stability, pH dependence of enzymatic activity, pH dependence of stability, stability towards oxidation, Ca²⁺-dependency and specific activity, comprising the following steps:

[0352] (a) modelling the parent alpha-amylase on the three-dimensional structure of SEQ ID NO:4 depicted in the Appendix 1 to produce a three-dimensional structure of the parent alpha-amylase;

[0353] (b) identifying in the three-dimensional structure obtained in step (a) at least one structural part of the parent wherein an alteration in said structural part is predicted to result in said altered property;

[0354] (c) modifying the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding the parent alpha-amylase to produce a nucleic acid encoding a deletion, insertion, or substitution of one or more amino acids at a position corresponding to said structural part; and

[0355] (d) expressing the modified nucleic acid in a host cell to produce the variant alpha-amylase,

[0356] wherein the variant has alpha-amylase enzymatic activity and has at least one altered property relative to the parent.

[0357] In an embodiment the method is a method of constructing a variant of a parent alpha-amylase having an altered property relative to the parent, wherein the parent alpha-amylase has the sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 13 or has a sequence at least 60% identity (determined as described above) to said sequence, said method comprising:

[0358] (a) modelling the parent alpha-amylase on the three-dimensional structure of SEQ ID NO:4 depicted in the Appendix 1 to produce a three-dimensional structure of the parent alpha-amylase;

[0359] (b) comparing the three-dimensional structure obtained in step (a) with a three-dimensional structure of an unrelated alpha-amylase, wherein the unrelated alpha-amylase differs from the parent alpha-amylase in said property;

[0360] (c) identifying a structural part of the three-dimensional structure obtained in step (a) which is different from the three-dimensional structure of the unrelated alpha-amylase and which is predicted to be relevant to said property,

[0361] (d) modifying the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding the parent alpha-amylase to produce a nucleic acid encoding a deletion, insertion, or substitution of one or more amino acids at a position corresponding to said structural part; and

[0362] (e) expressing the modified nucleic acid in a host cell to produce the variant alpha-amylase,

[0363] wherein the variant has alpha-amylase activity and has one or more altered properties as compared to the parent alpha-amylase.

[0364] The Termamyl-like alpha-amylases contemplated are the ones described above.

[0365] Method of Increasing the Solubility of Polypeptides

[0366] The present invention also relates to a method of increaning the solubility of polypeptides, such as enzymes, in particular Termamyl-like alpha-amylases.

[0367] The method of this invention comprises substitutions, insertions and/or deletion of one or more amino acid residue(s), which residue(s) hold a position close to a neighbour polypeptide molecule located in the protein crystal. In the context of this invention, a polypeptide amino acid residue holding a position close to the neighbour molecule indicates an amino acid residue located within the polypeptide in a way that it is within a potential intermolecular interactive distance from an amino acid residue located at a neighbour enzyme molecule in the crystal or precipitate.

[0368] Examples of potential intermolecular interactions include, but are not limited to hydrogen bonding, salt bridge formation, polar interactions, hydrophobic interactions and aromatic interactions.

[0369] The term “neighbouring” means in the context of the present invention the shortest distance between two positions in a crystal structure being prepared, e.g., as described in “Protein Crystallization Techniques, Strategies, and Tips”, A Laboratory Manual by Terese M. Bergfors), or as describe on the Internet on the site: www.hamptonresearchcom.

[0370] Thus, in this aspect the invention relates to a method of increasing the solubility of enzyme crystals, wherein one or more amino acid residue(s),

[0371] 1) located within a distance of 6.0 Å of a neighbouring polyptide molecule in the tertiary crystal structure, and

[0372] 2) interacting with said neighbouring polypeptide molecule, are mutated, e.g., by substitution or deletion.

[0373] In a preferred embodiment the amino acid residues to be mutated are located with 3.5 Å of a neighbouring polypeptide.

[0374] Contemplated polypeptides include antimicrobial polypeptides, polypeptides with biological activity, such as insulin, growth hormone, EPO, TPO, Factor VII, Factor VIII.

[0375] Contemplated enzyme activities include protease, amylase, CGTase, carbohydrase, transferase, lyase, oxidoreductase, lipase, cellulase, cutinase, pectate lyase, mannanase, maltogenic amylase, glucoamylase, pectin lyase activity.

[0376] In a preferred embodiment the enzyme is an amylase, preferably an alpha-amylase, especially a Termamyl-like alpha-amylase as will be described further below.

[0377] An amino acid position “close” to the substrate indicates a distance less than 6 Å (angstrom) corresponding to a protein-protein interaction mediated by a single water molecule. In a preferred embodiment an amino acid position close to the substrate indicates a distance less than 3.5 Å (angstrom) corresponding to a direct protein-protein interaction.

[0378] Method of Increasing the Solubility of Termamyl-like Alpha-amylases

[0379] In this aspect the invention relates to a method of increasing the solubility of Termamyl-like alpha-amylase crystals, wherein one or more amino acid residue(s),

[0380] 1) located within a distance of 6.0 Å of a neighbouring Termamyl-like alpha-amylase molecule in the tertiary crystal structure, and

[0381] 2) interacting with said neighbouring Termamyl-like alpha-amylase molecule, are mutated, e.g., by substitution or deletion.

[0382] In a preferred embodiment the amino acid residues to be mutated are located with 3.5 Å of a neighbouring Termamyl-like alpha-amylase. The crystal structure of SP722 depicted in APPENDIX 1 may be used as the reference (fix-point) for determining the distance between neighbouring alpha-amylases.

[0383] However, it is within the scope of the invention that the reference (fix-point) crystal structure is a structure modelled (as described above or in WO 96/23874) from SP722 depicted in APPENDIX 1.

[0384] Preferred Termamyl-like alpha-amylases include Bacillus alpha-amylase selected from the group consisting of alpha-amylase derived from a strain of B. licheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. stearothermophilus, Bacillus sp. NCIB 12289, NCIB 12512, NCIB 12513 or DSM 9375, or DSMZ no. 12649, KSM AP1378.

[0385] Termamyl-like alpha-amylase may be any of the alpha-amylases selected from the group depicted in SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 13, or Termamyl-like alpha-amylase having an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to SEQ ID NO: 4 of at least 60%, preferably 70%, more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably at least about 90%, even more preferably at least 95%, even more preferably at least 97%, and even more preferably at least 99%, or Termamyl-like alpha-amylase encoded by a nucleic acid sequence, which hydridizes under low, preferably medium, preferred high stringency conditions, with the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11. The conditions are described in further details above.

[0386] Termamyl-like alpha-amylase amino acid residues being less than 6.0 Å from the nearest neighbour amylase molecule are the following (using the SP722 numbering): 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 29, 53, 76, 84, 87, 90, 93, 94, 124, 125, 126, 128, 142, 144, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 193, 195, 196, 197, 209, 212, 226, 229, 256, 257, 258, 259, 280, 281, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 310, 311, 314, 319, 320, 321, 322, 341, 345, 405, 406, 408, 444, 447, 448, 449, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467.

[0387] Termamyl-like alpha-amylase amino acid residues being less than 3.5 Å from the nearest neighbour amylase molecule are the following (using the SP722 numbering): 22, 25, 28, 76, 94, 125, 128, 158, 160, 171, 173, 174, 184, 189, 209, 226, 229, 298, 299, 302, 306, 310, 314, 320, 345, 405, 447, 466.

[0388] The amino acid residues being less than 6.0 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the SP722 amylase: ASN 19, ASP 20, GLY 21, GLN 22, ASN 25, ARG 28, ASP 29, GLN 53, ARG 76, GLN 84, SER 87, HIS 90, LYS 93, ASN 94, ASN 125, ASN 126, ASN 128, LYS 142, ASP 144, LYS 156, TRP 157, ARG 158, TRP 159, TYR 160, HIS 161, PHE 173, GLN 174, ASN 175, ASP 183, GLY 184, LYS 185, ALA 186, TRP 187, ASP 188, TRP 189, GLU 190, SER 193, GLY 196, ASN 197, ASP 209, GLU 212, ASN 226, ASN 229, ALA 256, THR 257, GLY 258, LYS 259, ASN 280, LYS 281, TYR 298, ASN 299, ALA 300, ASN 302, SER 303, GLY 304, GLY 305, ASN 306, ALA 310, ASN 314, GLN 319, LYS 320, HIS 321, PRO 322, GLU 341, GLN 345, PHE 405, ASP 406, HIS 408, GLN 444, ALA 447, GLY 448, GLN 449, THR 463, ILE 464, ASN 465, ALA 466, ASP 467.

[0389] The amino acid residues being less than 3.5 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the SP722 amylase: GLN 22, ASN 25, ARG 28, ARG 76, ASN 94, ASN 125, ASN 128, ARG 158, TYR 160, PHE 173, GLN 174, GLY 184, TRP 189, ASP 209, ASN 226, ASN 229, TYR 298, ASN 299, ASN 302, ASN 306, ASN 314, LYS 320, GLN 345, PHE 405, ALA 447, ALA 466.

[0390] The amino acid residues being less than 6.0 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the AA560 amylase: ASN 19, ASP 20, ASN 22, ASN 25, ARG 28, SER 29, GLN 53, ARG 76, GLN 84, ALA 87, ASN 90, LYS 93, SER 94, PRO 124, ASN 125, ASN 126, ASN 128, LYS 142, ASP 144, LYS 156, TRP 157, ARG 158, TRP 159, TYR 160, HIS 161, SER 170, ARG 171, LYS 172, LEU 173, ASN 174, ASN 175, ASP 183, GLY 184, LYS 185, GLY 186, TRP 187, ASP 188, TRP 189, GLU 190, THR 193, ASN 195, GLY 196, ASN 197, ASP 209, GLU 212, ASN 226, GLY 229, ALA 256, THR 257, GLY 258, LYS 259, LYS 281, TYR 298, ASN 299, ALA 300, LYS 302, SER 303, GLY 304, ASN 306, ARG 310, GLN 311, ASN 314, GLN 319, ARG 320, HIS 321, PRO 322, GLU 341, GLU 345, LEU 405, HIS 408, ARG 444, ALA 447, GLY 448, GLN 449, THR 463, ILE 464, ASN 465, ALA 466, ASP 467.

[0391] The amino acid residues being less than 3.5 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the AA560 amylase: ARG 28, ASN 125, ASN 128, ARG 158, TYR 160, ARG 171, LEU 173, ASN 174, GLY 184, TRP 189, GLY 196, ASP 209, ASN 226, TYR 298, ASN 299, LYS 302, ASN 306, ARG 310, ASN 314, ARG 320, GLU 345, ALA 447, ALA 466.

[0392] Substitutions in Alpha-amylases Leading to Higher Solubility and Thus to Higher Performance

[0393] In general, any substitutions disturbing or destroying a protein-protein interaction of any kind will lead to higher solubility and thus to higher performance in a particular application. An amino acid residue participating in protein-protein interaction may thus be changed to a larger, a smaller, more hydrophobic, more hydrophilic, to a charged or to an uncharged amino acid leading to higher solubility.

[0394] A larger amino acid residue is capable of making a steric hindance for the interaction and a smaller amino acid residue makes the distance between the interacting residues to large, weaking the interaction. Polar interaction and in particular saltbridges are destroyed by changing at least one of the involved residues to a hydrophobic residues, by changing at least one of the involved residues to a smaller residue making the distance for a strong interaction to large, or by changing at least one of the involved residues to a larger residue which make sterical hindrance. Hydrophobic interactions are effectively disturbed by changing one of the interacting amino acids to hydrophilic amino acid residues but also smaller or larger hydrophobic residues can destroy this kind of interaction. Aromatic interactions can be prevented by changing to a hydrophilic residue or to a small hydrophobic residue.

[0395] Materials and Methods

[0396] Enzymes

[0397] SP722: SEQ ID NO: 4, available from Novozymes, and disclosed in WO 95/26397.

[0398] AA560: SEQ ID NO: 12; disclosed in WO 00/60060 and available from Novozymes A/S; disclosed in Danish patent application no. PA 1999 00490; deposited on Jan. 25, 1999 at DSMZ and assigned the DSMZ no. 12649.

[0399] AA560 was deposited under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure at Deutshe summmlung von Microorganismen und Zelikulturen GmbH (DSMZ), Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig DE.

[0400]Bacillus subtilis SHA273: see WO 95/10603

[0401] Plasmids

[0402] pJE1 contains the gene encoding a variant of SP722 alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 4): viz. deletion of 6 nucleotides corresponding to amino acids D183-G184 in the mature protein. Transcription of the JE1 gene is directed from the amyL promoter. The plasmid further more contains the origin of replication and cat-gene conferring resistance towards kanamycin obtained from plasmid pUB110 (Gryczan, T J et al. (1978), J. Bact. 134:318-329).

[0403] Methods

[0404] Modelbuilding

[0405] Protein structure databases, such as “The Protein Data Bank (PDB) (<http://www.pdb.bnl.gov/>)” or “The Brookhaven databank at Brookhaven National Laboratory, US” are search for proteins similar to the molecule in question that a model are to be build of. The amino acid sequences are aligned taking structurally conserved regions into consideration and the coordinates are copied from the reference protein to the subject protein. The coordinates for regions with insertions and deletions are assigned either from other proteins having similar amino acid sequence, or by using the random structure generator function found in most 3D software packages, eg. in Homology from Biosym, MSI.

[0406] When coordinates have been assigned to all amino acids of the subjective protein and the fragments have been linked together, example by the cormands END REPAIR and SPLICE REPAIR, in the Discover program from from Biosym, MSI, the model are to be refined. The energy of the model is minimised first by relaxing the molecule (RELAX command in the Discover program) and second minimised by molecular dynamics.

[0407] References can be found in and in the manuals of homology building software, eg. Homology from Biosym, MSI.

[0408] Construction of Library Vector pDorK101

[0409] The E. coli/Bacillus shuttle vector pDorK101 (described below) can be used to introduce mutations without expression of alpha-amylase in E. coli and then be modified in such way that the alpha-amylase is active in Bacillus. The vector was constructed as follows: The JE1 encoding gene (SP722 with the deletion of D183-G184) was inactivated in pJE1 by gene interruption in the PstI site in the 5′ coding region of SEQ ID NO: 4: SP722 by a 1.2 kb fragment containing an E. coli origin of replication. This fragment was PCR amplified from the pUC19 (GenBank Accession #:X02514) using the forward primer: 5′-gacctgcagtcaggcaacta-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 19) and the reverse primer: 5′-tagagtcgacctgcaggcat-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 20). The PCR amplicon and the pJE1 vector were digested with PstI at 37° C. for 2 hours. The pJE1 vector fragment and the PCR fragment were ligated at room temperature for 1 hour and transformed in E. coli by electrotransformation. The resulting vector is designated pDorK101.

[0410] Filter Screening Assays

[0411] The assay can be used to screening of Termamyl-like α-amylase variants having an improved stability at high pH compared to the parent enzyme and Termamyl-like α-amylase variants having an improved stability at high pH and medium temperatures compared to the parent enzyme depending of the screening temperature setting.

[0412] High pH Filter Assay

[0413] Bacillus libraries are plated on a sandwich of cellulose acetate (OE 67, Schleicher & Schuell, Dassel, Germany)—and nitrocellulose filters (Protran-Ba 85, Schleicher & Schuell, Dassel, Germany) on TY agar plates with 10 μg/ml kanamycin at 37° C. for at least 21 hours. The cellulose acetate layer is located on the TY agar plate.

[0414] Each filter sandwich is specifically marked with a needle after plating, but before incubation in order to be able to localize positive variants on the filter and the nitrocellulose filter with bound variants is transferred to a container with glycin-NaOH buffer, pH 8.6-10.6 and incubated at room temperature (can be altered from 10°-60° C.) for 15 min. The cellulose acetate filters with colonies are stored on the TY-plates at room temperature until use. After incubation, residual activity is detected on plates containing 1% agarose, 0.2% starch in glycin-NaOH buffer, pH 8.6-10.6. The assay plates with nitrocellulose filters are marked the same way as the filter sandwich and incubated for 2 hours. at room temperature. After removal of the filters the assay plates are stained with 10% Lugol solution. Starch degrading variants are detected as white spots on dark blue background and then identified on the storage plates. Positive variants are rescreened twice under the same conditions as the first screen.

[0415] Low Calcium Filter Assay

[0416] The Bacillus library are plated on a sandwich of cellulose acetate (OE 67, Schleicher & Schuell, Dassel, Germany)—and nitrocellulose filters (Protran-Ba 85, Schleicher & Schuell, Dassel, Germany) on TY agar plates with a relevant antibiotic, e.g., kanamycin or chloramphenicol, at 37° C. for at least 21 hours. The cellulose acetate layer is located on the TY agar plate.

[0417] Each filter sandwich is specifically marked with a needle after plating, but before incubation in order to be able to localize positive variants on the filter and the nitrocellulose filter with bound variants is transferred to a container with carbonate/bicarbonate buffer pH 8.5-10 and with different EDTA concentrations (0.001 mM-100 mM). The filters are incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. The cellulose acetate filters with colonies are stored on the TY-plates at room temperature until use. After incubation, residual activity is detected on plates containing 1% agarose, 0.2% starch in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer pH 8.5-10. The assay plates with nitrocellulose filters are marked the same way as the filter sandwich and incubated for 2 hours. at room temperature. After removal of the filters the assay plates are stained with 10% Lugol solution. Starch degrading variants are detected as white spots on dark blue background and then identified on the storage plates. Positive variants are rescreened twice under the same conditions as the first screen.

[0418] Method for Obtaining the Regions of Interest

[0419] There are three known 3D structures of bacterial α-amylases. Two of B. licheniformis α-amylase, Brookhaven database 1BPL (Machius et al. (1995), J. Mol. Biol. 246, p. 545-559) and 1VJS (Song et al. (1996), Enzymes for Carbohydrate 163 Engineering (Prog. Biotechnol. V 12). These two structures are lacking an important piece of the structure from the so-called B-domain, in the area around the two Calcium ions and one Sodium ion binding sites. We have therefore used a 3D structure of an alpha-amylase BA2 (WO 96/23874 which is a hybrid between BAN™ (SEQ ID NO: 5) and B. licheniformis alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 4). On basis of the structure a model of B. licheniformis alpha amylase and the SP722 (α-amylase has been built.

[0420] Fermentation and Purification of α-amylase Variants

[0421] Fermentation and purification may be performed by methods well known in the art.

[0422] Stability Determination

[0423] All stability trials are made using the same set up. The method is as follows:

[0424] The enzyme is incubated under the relevant conditions (1-4). Samples are taken at various time points, e.g., after 0, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes and diluted 25 times (same dilution for all taken samples) in assay buffer (0.1 M 50 mM Britton buffer pH 7.3) and the activity is measured using the Phadebas assay (Pharmacia) under standard conditions pH 7.3, 37° C.

[0425] The activity measured before incubation (0 minutes) is used as reference (100%). The decline in percent is calculated as a function of the incubation time. The table shows the residual activity after, e.g., 30 minutes of incubation.

[0426] Specific Activity Determination

[0427] The specific activity is determined using the Phadebas assay (Pharmacia) as activity/mg enzyme. The manufacturer's instructions are followed (see also below under “Assay for α-amylase activity).

[0428] Solubility Determination I

[0429] Purified enzyme is dialyzed against a selected buffer overnight. Standard conditions are 0.02 M Tris-HCl, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.5, room temperature. A preparation, containing approximately 40 mg enzyme is concentrated on an amicon cell using Millepore ultrafiltration membranes, YM10, NMWL: 10,000. Measuring A₂₈₀ before and during the process followed concentration of the enzyme. The concentration step is stopped when precipitation started to occur. Measurement of activity in the supernatant is made to ensure that the precipitate actually is amylase. The precipitate is then dissolved again by adding buffer at room temperature and the protein concentration is measured.

[0430] Solubility Determination II

[0431] Purified enzyme is dialyzed against a selected buffer overnight. Standard conditions are 0.01 M Boric acid, 0.01 M KCl, 0.002 M CaCl₂, 0.15 M NaCl pH 7.5. A preparation, containing approximately 40 mg enzyme is concentrated on an amicon cell using Millepore ultrafiltration hi membranes, YM10, NMWL: 10,000. Measuring A₂₈₀ before and during the process followed concentration of the enzyme. The concentration step is stopped when precipitation started to occur. Measurement of activity in the supernatant is made to ensure that the precipitate actually is amylase. The precipitate is then dissolved again by adding buffer at room temperature and the protein concentration is measured.

[0432] Assays for Alpha-Amylase Activity

[0433] 1. Phadebas Assay

[0434] Alpha-amylase activity is determined by a method employing Phadebas® tablets as substrate. Phadebas tablets (Phadebas® Amylase Test, supplied by Pharmacia Diagnostic) contain a cross-linked insoluble blue-colored starch polymer, which has been mixed with bovine serum albumin and a buffer substance and tabletted.

[0435] For every single measurement one tablet is suspended in a tube containing 5 ml 50 mM Britton-Robinson buffer (50 mM acetic acid, 50 mM phosphoric acid, 50 mM boric acid, 0.1 mM CaCl₂, pH adjusted to the value of interest with NaOH). The test is performed in a water bath at the temperature of interest. The alpha-amylase to be tested is diluted in x ml of 50 mM Britton-Robinson buffer. 1 ml of this alpha-amylase solution is added to the 5 ml 50 mM Britton-Robinson buffer. The starch is hydrolyzed by the alpha-amylase giving soluble blue fragments. The absorbance of the resulting blue solution, measured spectrophotometrically at 620 nm, is a function of the alpha-amylase activity.

[0436] It is important that the measured 620 nm absorbance after 10 or 15 minutes of incubation (testing time) is in the range of 0.2 to 2.0 absorbance units at 620 nm. In this absorbance range there is linearity between activity and absorbance (Lambert-Beer law). The dilution of the enzyme must therefore be adjusted to fit this criterion. Under a specified set of conditions (temp., pH, reaction time, buffer conditions) 1 mg of a given alpha-amylase will hydrolyze a certain amount of substrate and a blue colour will be produced. The colour intensity is measured at 620 nm. The measured absorbance is directly proportional to the specific activity (activity/mg of pure alpha-amylase protein) of the alpha-amylase in question under the given set of conditions.

[0437] 2. Alternative Method

[0438] Alpha-amylase activity is determined by a method employing the PNP-G7 substrate. PNP-G7 which is a abbreviation for p-nitrophenyl-alpha,D-maltoheptaoside is a blocked oligosaccharide which can be cleaved by an endo-amylase. Following the cleavage, the alpha-Glucosidase included in the kit digest the substrate to liberate a free PNP molecule which has a yellow colour and thus can be measured by visible spectophometry at λ=405 nm. (400-420 nm). Kits containing PNP-G7 substrate and alpha-Glucosidase is manufactured by Boehringer-Mannheim (cat. No. 1054635).

[0439] To prepare the substrate one bottle of substrate (BM 1442309) is added to 5 ml buffer (BM1442309). To prepare the α-Glucosidase one bottle of alpha-Glucosidase (BM 1462309) is added to 45 ml buffer (BM1442309). The working solution is made by mixing 5 ml alpha-Glucosidase solution with 0.5 ml substrate.

[0440] The assay is performed by transforming 20 μl enzyme solution to a 96 well microtitre plate and incubating at 25° C. 200 μl working solution, 25° C. is added. The solution is mixed and pre-incubated 1 minute and absorption is measured every 15 sec. over 3 minutes at OD 405 nm.

[0441] The slope of the time dependent absorption-curve is directly proportional to the specific activity (activity per mg enzyme) of the alpha-amylase in question under the given set of conditions.

[0442] General Method for Random Mutagenesis by Use of the DOPE Program

[0443] The random mutagenesis may be carried out as follows:

[0444] 1. Select regions of interest for modification in the parent enzyme

[0445] 2. Decide on mutation sites and non-mutated sites in the selected region

[0446] 3. Decide on which kind of mutations should be carried out, e.g. with respect to the desired stability and/or performance of the variant to be constructed

[0447] 4. Select structurally reasonable mutations.

[0448] 5. Adjust the residues selected by step 3 with regard to step 4.

[0449] 6. Analyze by use of a suitable dope algorithm the nucleotide distribution.

[0450] 7. If necessary, adjust the wanted residues to genetic code realism (e.g., taking into account constraints resulting from the genetic code (e.g. in order to avoid introduction of stop codons))(the skilled person will be aware that some codon combinations cannot be used in practice and will need to be adapted)

[0451] 8. Make primers

[0452] 9. Perform random mutagenesis by use of the primers

[0453] 10. Select resulting α-amylase variants by screening for the desired improved properties.

[0454] Suitable dope algorithms for use in step 6 are well known in the art. One algorithm is described by Tomandl, D. et al., Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, 11 (1997), pp. 29-38). Another algorithm, DOPE, is described in the following:

[0455] The Dope Program

[0456] The “DOPE” program is a computer algorithm useful to optimize the nucleotide composition of a codon triplet in such a way that it encodes an amino acid distribution which resembles most the wanted amino acid distribution. In order to assess which of the possible distributions is the most similar to the wanted amino acid distribution, a scoring function is needed. In the “Dope” program the following function was found to be suited: ${s \equiv {\prod\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\quad \left( \frac{{x_{i}^{y_{i}}\left( {1 - x_{i}} \right)}^{1 - y_{i}}}{{y_{i}^{y_{i}}\left( {1 - y_{i}} \right)}^{1 - y_{i}}} \right)^{w_{i}}}},$

[0457] where the x_(i)'s are the obtained amounts of amino acids and groups of amino acids as calculated by the program, y_(i)'s are the wanted amounts of amino acids and groups of amino acids as defined by the user of the program (e.g. specify which of the 20 amino acids or stop codons are wanted to be introduced, e.g. with a certain percentage (e.g. 90% Ala, 3% Ile, 7% Val), and w_(i)'s are assigned weight factors as defined by the user of the program (e.g., depending on the importance of having a specific amino acid residue inserted into the position in question). N is 21 plus the number of amino acid groups as defined by the user of the program. For purposes of this function 0⁰ is defined as being 1.

[0458] A Monte-Carlo algorithm (one example being the one described by Valleau, J. P. & Whittington, S. G. (1977) A guide to Mont Carlo for statistical mechanics: 1 Highways. In “Stastistical Mechanics, Part A” Equlibrium Techniqeues ed. B. J. Berne, New York: Plenum) is used for finding the maximum value of this function. In each iteration the following steps are performed:

[0459] 1. A new random nucleotide composition is chosen for each base, where the absolute difference between the current and the new composition is smaller than or equal to d for each of the four nucleotides G,A,T,C in all three positions of the codon (see below for definition of d).

[0460] 2. The scores of the new composition and the current composition are compared by the is use of the function s as described above. If the new score is higher or equal to the score of the current composition, the new composition is kept and the current composition is changed to the new one. If the new score is smaller, the probability of keeping the new composition is exp(1000(new score_current_score)).

[0461] A cycle normally consists of 1000 iterations as described above in which d is decreasing linearly from 1 to 0. One hundred or more cycles are performed in an optimization process. The nucleotide composition resulting in the highest score is finally presented.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Method of Extracting Important Regions and Amino Acid Residues for Identifying SP722 Alpha-amylase Variants with Altered Properties

[0462] The tertiary structure of the SP722 alpha-amylase was displayed on a UNIX computer station running Insight and all hydrogens and water molecules were deleted. For this minimized amylase structure, all the symetri related amylase molecules were displayed, according to the crystal parameters and the spacegroup determined in the pdb-structure file (Appendix 1). A small computer program was made to calculate the distance from each atom in the mother alpha-amylase to any atom in the symetri related amylase structures. Setting the distance cut-off to 3.5 Å and 6.0 Å, respectively resulted in the lists below:

[0463] The amino acid residues being less than 6.0 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the SP722 amylase: ASN 19, ASP 20, GLY 21, GLN 22, ASN 25, ARG 28, ASP 29, GLN 53, ARG 76, GLN 84, SER 87, HIS 90, LYS 93, ASN 94, ASN 125, ASN 126, ASN 128, LYS 142, ASP 144, LYS 156, TRP 157, ARG 158, TRP 159, TYR 160, HIS 161, PHE 173, GLN 174, ASN 175, ASP 183, GLY 184, LYS 185, ALA 186, TRP 187, ASP 188, TRP 189, GLU 190, SER 193, GLY 196, ASN 197, ASP 209, GLU 212, ASN 226, ASN 229, ALA 256, THR 257, GLY 258, LYS 259, ASN 280, LYS 281, TYR 298, ASN 299, ALA 300, ASN 302, SER 303, GLY 304, GLY 305, ASN 306, ALA 310, ASN 314, GLN 319, LYS 320, HIS 321, PRO 322, GLU 341, GLN 345, PHE 405, ASP 406, HIS 408, GLN 444, ALA 447, GLY 448, GLN 449, THR 463, ILE 464, ASN 465, ALA 466, ASP 467.

[0464] The amino acid residues being less than 3.5 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the SP722 amylase: GLN 22, ASN 25, ARG 28, ARG 76, ASN 94, ASN 125, ASN 128, ARG 158, TYR 160, PHE 173, GLN 174, GLY 184, TRP 189, ASP 209, ASN 226, ASN 229, TYR 298, ASN 299, ASN 302, ASN 306, ASN 314, LYS 320, GLN 345, PHE 405, ALA 447, ALA 466.

Example 2 Alternative Method of Extracting Important Regions and Amino Acid Residues for Identifying SP722 Alpha-amylase Variants with Altered Properties

[0465] The tertiary structure of the SP722 alpha-amylase was displayed on a UNIX computer station running Insight and all hydrogen and water molecules were deleted. This minimized amylase structure was imported (“getmol”) into the WHAT IF software (G. Vriend, J. Mol. Graph. (1990) 8, 52-56) and all the symmetry related amylase molecules within 6 angstrom were added to the soup (“symtry, symspg, sympar 6, soushl, soup). A new coordinate file for SP722 including the symmetry molecules was written (makmol, tot 0). The center SP722 amylase was then deleted from the structure file, and a new file including the surrounding molecules was written. A small computer program was made to calculate the distance from each atom in the mother alpha-amylase (original SP72 structure file without water molecules and Hydrogen atoms) to any atom in the symmetry related amylase file. Setting the distance cut-off to 3.5 Å and 6.0 Å, respectively resulted in identification of the position referred to in the description.

[0466] What If commands: >>Whatif<< Starts WHAT IF >>Getmol sp722_HOH.pdb<< import the water and H-depleted SP722 structure file into the WHAT IF sotware >>symtry<< Go to symmetry menu >>symspg<< Reads symmetry related information in structure file >>sympar 6<< Makes symmetry related residues within 6 A distance >>soushl<< Adds the symmetry molecules to the soup >>soup<< Go to soup menu >>makmol, “sp722_wi6.pdb”, tot 0<< writes the “sp722_wi6” pdb file including all atoms in the soup (SP722 and the symmetry molecules within 6 Å).

Example 3 Homology Building of AA560 from SP722 Tertiary Structure

[0467] The overall homology of the AA560 alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 12) to SP722 (SEQ ID NO: 4) is about 87% as described above. Sequence alignment of AA560 and SP722 shows there to be no insertion or deletions, which can also be seen in FIG. 1.

[0468] The tertiary structure of the AA560 alpha-amylase was model build on the structure disclosed in Appendix 1 using the method “Modelbuiling” described in the “Materials & Methods”-section.

[0469] The structure of SP722 was displayed on a UNIX work staion running Insight and Homology software from BIOSYM, MSI. The amino acid sequences were aligned and the Sp722 coordinated assigned to the AA560 amino acids. The coordinates of the first four amino acids in AA560, which are missing in the SP722 structure, were assigned by the “END REPAIR” function.

[0470] The AA560 model was refined by first relaxing the amino acid side changes, using the “RELAX” command and then running molecular dynamics to minimise the energy of the 3D model. Default parameters from Insight 95, MSI were chosen for both relaxation molecular dynamics.

[0471] Finally the spacegroup and the unit cell dimentions are copied from the SP722 pdb file to the AA560 model file.

Example 4 Method of Extracting Important Regions for Identifying AA560 Alpha-amylase Variants with Altered Altered Properties

[0472] The model build structure of AA560 was subjected to the same calculations as was SP722 in Example 1. Because the homology of the two alpha-amylases is as high as about 87% identity, the crystal interactions of AA560 are expected to similar to those of SP722, i.e., AA560 crystalize in the same spacegroup as SP722 and with the similar unity cell parameter.

[0473] The tertiary structure of the AA560 alpha-amylase was displayed on a UNIX computer station running Insight and all hydrogens and water molecules were deleted. For this minimized amylase structure, all the symetri related amylase molecules were displayed, according to the crystal parameters and the spacegroup for SP722 (Appendix 1). A small computer program was made to calculate the distance from each atom in the “mother” alpha-amylase to any atom in the symetri related amylase structures. Setting the distance cut-off to 3.5 Å and 6.0 Å, respectively resulted in the lists below:

[0474] The amino acid residues being less than 6.0 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the AA560 amylase: ASN 19, ASP 20, ASN 22, ASN 25, ARG 28, SER 29, GLN 53, ARG 76, GLN 84, ALA 87, ASN 90, LYS 93, SER 94, PRO 124, ASN 125, ASN 126, ASN 128, LYS 142, ASP 144, LYS 156, TRP 157, ARG 158, TRP 159, TYR 160, HIS 161, SER 170, ARG 171, LYS 172, LEU 173, ASN 174, ASN 175, ASP 183, GLY 184, LYS 185, GLY 186, TRP 187, ASP 188, TRP 189, GLU 190, THR 193, ASN 195, GLY 196, ASN 197, ASP 209, GLU 212, ASN 226, GLY 229, ALA 256, THR 257, GLY 258, LYS 259, LYS 281, TYR 298, ASN 299, ALA 300, LYS 302, SER 303, GLY 304, ASN 306, ARG 310, GLN 311, ASN 314, GLN 319, ARG 320, HIS 321, PRO 322, GLU 341, GLU 345, LEU 405, HIS 408, ARG 444, ALA 447, GLY 448, GLN 449, THR 463, ILE 464, ASN 465, ALA 466, ASP 467.

[0475] The amino acid residues being less than 3.5 Å from the nearest neighboring amylase molecule are the following positions identified in the model structure of the AA560 amylase: ARG 28, ASN 125, ASN 128, ARG 158, TYR 160, ARG 171, LEU 173, ASN 174, GLY 184, TRP 189, GLY 196, ASP 209, ASN 226, TYR 298, ASN 299, LYS 302, ASN 306, ARG 310, ASN 314, ARG 320, GLU 345, ALA 447, ALA 466.

Example 5 Construction, by Localized Random, Doped Mutagenesis, of AA560 Alpha-amylase Variants Having Increased Solubility in Comparison to the Parent Enzyme

[0476] To increase the solubility of the AA560 alpha-amylase random mutagenesis in pre-selected region was performed as described in the following. Region: Residue: SAl: R181-W189

[0477] The DOPE software (see “Materials and Methods”) was used to determine spiked codons for each suggested change in the SA1 region minimizing the amount of stop codons (see table 1). The exact distribution of nucleotides was calculated in the three positions of the codon to give the suggested population of amino acid changes. The doped regions were doped specifically in the indicated positions to have a high chance of getting the desired residues, but still allow other possibilities. TABLE 1 Distribution of amino acid residues for each position R181: 72% R, 2% N, 7% Q, 4% H, 4% K, 11% S G182: 73% G, 13% A, 12% S, 2% T K185: 95% K, 5% R G186: 50% A, 4% N, 6% D, 1% E, 1% G, 1% K, 5% S, 31% T W187: 100% W D188: 100% D W189: 92% W, 8% S

[0478] The resulting doped oligonucleotide strand is shown in table 2 as sense strand: with the wild type nucleotide and amino acid sequences and the distribution of nucleotides for each doped position. TABLE 2 Position 181 182 185 186 187 188 189 Amino acid seq. Arg Gly Lys Gly Trp Asp Trp (SEQ ID NO: 12) Wt nuc. seq. aga ggt aaa ggg tgg gat tgg (SEQ ID NO: 11) Forward primer (SEQ ID NO: 14) FSA: 5′-caa aat cgt atc tac aaa ttc 123 456 a7g 8910 tgg gat tllg gaa gta gat tcg gaa aat-3′ Distribution of nucleotides for each doped Position 1: 35% A, 65% C 2: 83% G, 17% A 3: 63% G, 37% T 4: 86% G, 14% A 5: 85% G, 15% C 6: 50% T, 50% C 7: 95% A, 5% G 8: 58% G, 37% A, 5% T 9: 86% C, 13% A, 1% G 10: 83% T, 17% G 11: 92% G, 8% C Reverse primer (SEQ ID NO: 15) RSA 5′-gaa ttt gta gat acg att ttg-3′

[0479] Random Mutagenesis

[0480] The spiked oligonucleotides apparent from Table 2 (which by a common term is designated FSA) and reverse primers RSA for the SA1 region and specific SEQ ID NO: 12: AA560 primers covering the SacII and the DraIII sites are used to generate PCR-library-fragments by the overlap extension method (Horton et al., Gene, 77 (1989), pp. 61-68) with an overlap of 21 base pairs. Plasmid pJE1 is template for the Polymerase Chain Reaction. The PCR fragments are cloned in the E. coli/Bacillus shuttle vector pDork101 (see “Materials and Methods” section) enabling mutagenesis in E. coli and immediate expression in Bacillus subtilis preventing lethal accumulation of amylases in E. coli. After establishing the cloned PCR fragments in E. coli, a modified pUC19 fragment is digested out of the plasmid and the promoter and the mutated Termamyl gene is physically connected and expression can take place in Bacillus.

[0481] Screening

[0482] The library may be screened in the low calcium filter assays described in the “Material and Methods” section above.

Example 6 Construction of Variants of AA560

[0483] The gene encoding the AA560 alpha-amylase shown in SEQ ID NO: 12 is located in a plasmid pTVB223. The amylase is expressed from the amyL promoter in this construct in Bacillus subtilis.

[0484] A variant of the invention with delta(D183-G184) mutations was constructed by the mega-primer method as described by Sarkar and Sommer, (1990), BioTechniques 8: 404-407.

[0485] Gene specific primer B1 (SEQ ID NO: 16) and mutagenic primer 101458 (SEQ ID NO: 18) were used to amplify by PCR an approximately 645 bp DNA fragment from a pTVB223 plasmid encoding AA560 shown in SEQ ID NO: 12).

[0486] The 645 bp fragment was purified from an agarose gel and used as a mega-primer together with primer Y2 (SEQ ID NO: 17) in a second PCR carried out on the same template.

[0487] The resulting approximately 1080 bp fragment was digested with restriction enzymes BstEII and AfIIII and the resulting approximately 510 bp DNA fragment was purified and ligated with the pTVB223 plasmid digested with the same enzymes. Competent Bacillus subtilis SHA273 (amylase and protease low) cells were transformed with the ligation and Chlorampenicol resistant transformants and was checked by DNA sequencing to verify the presence of the correct mutations on the plasmid. primer B1: (SEQ ID NO: 16) 5′ CGA TTG CTG ACG CTG TTA TTT GCG 3′ primer Y2: (SEQ ID NO: 17) 5′ CTT GTT CCC TTG TCA GAA CCA ATG 3′ primer 101458 (SEQ ID NO: 18) 5′ GT CAT AGT TGC CGA AAT CTG TAT CGA CTT C 3′

[0488] The resulting plasmid encoding the AA560 amylase with delta(D183-G184)+N195F was named pTVB232.

[0489] The construction of the other variants of the invention was carried out in a similar manner.

Example 7 Determination of Solubility of AA560 and SP722 Variants

[0490] AA560 variant was constructed as described above. The solubility was determined as descred in the “Material and Methods” section as Solubility Determination I Variant Solubility (mg/ml) Wild-type AA560 2 mg/ml AA560 delta(D183-G184) + N195F + N445Q + N446N(AX23) more than 6 mg/ml 0.02 M Tris-HCl, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.5, room temperature

[0491] The concentration step was started with a protein amount of 40 mg and in general, 50% of the amylases were lost during the process. This loss of protein occurred for all enzymes in the initial phase of the process and full recovery of the enzymes were obtained in the terminating phase where the volumes are become very limited. Loss of enzymes was due to adsorption to the membrane.

Example 8 Determination of Solubility of AA560 Variants

[0492] AA560 variants were constructed as described above, using the wild-type AA560 as template. The solubility was determined as described in the “Material and Methods” section under Solubility Determination II Solubility Mutations (g/L) Wild type AA560 2.8 AA560 + N125A 9 AA560 + N125R 9 AA560 + N306R 7 AA560 + Y298H + N299A + K302R + S303Q + N306G 12 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + R181Q + E345R 12 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + R181Q + W189R 4.5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + R181Q + S94K + W189R 7 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R118K + R320K + R458K 10 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + W189K + N306K + N445K 10 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R118K + N125K + R444K + N445K 3 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + W189K + N445K 12 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R400T 4 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + W439R 5.5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + Q449E 3.4 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + N484Q 4.3 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R181Q + N445Q + K446N + N484E 4.15 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R181E + N445Q + K446N 3.5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R181E + K446N 5.2 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R310A + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R320K + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 6.9 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + Q319K + R320D + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 4 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + N306A + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 5.5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + K302N + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 8 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + E345N + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 3.5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + Y298F + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R28N + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 4.5 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + R28N + R310A + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 11 AA560 + delta(D183 + G184) + N195F + N128D + N306D + R181Q + N445Q + K446N 5.3

[0493]

1 20 1 1455 DNA Bacillus sp. CDS (1)..(1455) SP690 1 cat cat aat gga aca aat ggt act atg atg caa tat ttc gaa tgg tat 48 His His Asn Gly Thr Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr 1 5 10 15 ttg cca aat gac ggg aat cat tgg aac agg ttg agg gat gac gca gct 96 Leu Pro Asn Asp Gly Asn His Trp Asn Arg Leu Arg Asp Asp Ala Ala 20 25 30 aac tta aag agt aaa ggg ata aca gct gta tgg atc cca cct gca tgg 144 Asn Leu Lys Ser Lys Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Trp 35 40 45 aag ggg act tcc cag aat gat gta ggt tat gga gcc tat gat tta tat 192 Lys Gly Thr Ser Gln Asn Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr 50 55 60 gat ctt gga gag ttt aac cag aag ggg acg gtt cgt aca aaa tat gga 240 Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 80 aca cgc aac cag cta cag gct gcg gtg acc tct tta aaa aat aac ggc 288 Thr Arg Asn Gln Leu Gln Ala Ala Val Thr Ser Leu Lys Asn Asn Gly 85 90 95 att cag gta tat ggt gat gtc gtc atg aat cat aaa ggt gga gca gat 336 Ile Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Met Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp 100 105 110 ggt acg gaa att gta aat gcg gta gaa gtg aat cgg agc aac cga aac 384 Gly Thr Glu Ile Val Asn Ala Val Glu Val Asn Arg Ser Asn Arg Asn 115 120 125 cag gaa acc tca gga gag tat gca ata gaa gcg tgg aca aag ttt gat 432 Gln Glu Thr Ser Gly Glu Tyr Ala Ile Glu Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp 130 135 140 ttt cct gga aga gga aat aac cat tcc agc ttt aag tgg cgc tgg tat 480 Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Asn His Ser Ser Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr 145 150 155 160 cat ttt gat ggg aca gat tgg gat cag tca cgc cag ctt caa aac aaa 528 His Phe Asp Gly Thr Asp Trp Asp Gln Ser Arg Gln Leu Gln Asn Lys 165 170 175 ata tat aaa ttc agg gga aca ggc aag gcc tgg gac tgg gaa gtc gat 576 Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly Thr Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp 180 185 190 aca gag aat ggc aac tat gac tat ctt atg tat gca gac gtg gat atg 624 Thr Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Val Asp Met 195 200 205 gat cac cca gaa gta ata cat gaa ctt aga aac tgg gga gtg tgg tat 672 Asp His Pro Glu Val Ile His Glu Leu Arg Asn Trp Gly Val Trp Tyr 210 215 220 acg aat aca ctg aac ctt gat gga ttt aga ata gat gca gtg aaa cat 720 Thr Asn Thr Leu Asn Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Val Lys His 225 230 235 240 ata aaa tat agc ttt acg aga gat tgg ctt aca cat gtg cgt aac acc 768 Ile Lys Tyr Ser Phe Thr Arg Asp Trp Leu Thr His Val Arg Asn Thr 245 250 255 aca ggt aaa cca atg ttt gca gtg gct gag ttt tgg aaa aat gac ctt 816 Thr Gly Lys Pro Met Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Phe Trp Lys Asn Asp Leu 260 265 270 ggt gca att gaa aac tat ttg aat aaa aca agt tgg aat cac tcg gtg 864 Gly Ala Ile Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Ser Trp Asn His Ser Val 275 280 285 ttt gat gtt cct ctc cac tat aat ttg tac aat gca tct aat agc ggt 912 Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Asn Ser Gly 290 295 300 ggt tat tat gat atg aga aat att tta aat ggt tct gtg gtg caa aaa 960 Gly Tyr Tyr Asp Met Arg Asn Ile Leu Asn Gly Ser Val Val Gln Lys 305 310 315 320 cat cca aca cat gcc gtt act ttt gtt gat aac cat gat tct cag ccc 1008 His Pro Thr His Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Ser Gln Pro 325 330 335 ggg gaa gca ttg gaa tcc ttt gtt caa caa tgg ttt aaa cca ctt gca 1056 Gly Glu Ala Leu Glu Ser Phe Val Gln Gln Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala 340 345 350 tat gca ttg gtt ctg aca agg gaa caa ggt tat cct tcc gta ttt tat 1104 Tyr Ala Leu Val Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Gly Tyr Pro Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 ggg gat tac tac ggt atc cca acc cat ggt gtt ccg gct atg aaa tct 1152 Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Thr His Gly Val Pro Ala Met Lys Ser 370 375 380 aaa ata gac cct ctt ctg cag gca cgt caa act ttt gcc tat ggt acg 1200 Lys Ile Asp Pro Leu Leu Gln Ala Arg Gln Thr Phe Ala Tyr Gly Thr 385 390 395 400 cag cat gat tac ttt gat cat cat gat att atc ggt tgg aca aga gag 1248 Gln His Asp Tyr Phe Asp His His Asp Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu 405 410 415 gga aat agc tcc cat cca aat tca ggc ctt gcc acc att atg tca gat 1296 Gly Asn Ser Ser His Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Met Ser Asp 420 425 430 ggt cca ggt ggt aac aaa tgg atg tat gtg ggg aaa aat aaa gcg gga 1344 Gly Pro Gly Gly Asn Lys Trp Met Tyr Val Gly Lys Asn Lys Ala Gly 435 440 445 caa gtt tgg aga gat att acc gga aat agg aca ggc acc gtc aca att 1392 Gln Val Trp Arg Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Thr Gly Thr Val Thr Ile 450 455 460 aat gca gac gga tgg ggt aat ttc tct gtt aat gga ggg tcc gtt tcg 1440 Asn Ala Asp Gly Trp Gly Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser 465 470 475 480 gtt tgg gtg aag caa 1455 Val Trp Val Lys Gln 485 2 485 PRT Bacillus sp. 2 His His Asn Gly Thr Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Asn Asp Gly Asn His Trp Asn Arg Leu Arg Asp Asp Ala Ala 20 25 30 Asn Leu Lys Ser Lys Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Trp 35 40 45 Lys Gly Thr Ser Gln Asn Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr 50 55 60 Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 80 Thr Arg Asn Gln Leu Gln Ala Ala Val Thr Ser Leu Lys Asn Asn Gly 85 90 95 Ile Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Met Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp 100 105 110 Gly Thr Glu Ile Val Asn Ala Val Glu Val Asn Arg Ser Asn Arg Asn 115 120 125 Gln Glu Thr Ser Gly Glu Tyr Ala Ile Glu Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp 130 135 140 Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Asn His Ser Ser Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr 145 150 155 160 His Phe Asp Gly Thr Asp Trp Asp Gln Ser Arg Gln Leu Gln Asn Lys 165 170 175 Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly Thr Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp 180 185 190 Thr Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Val Asp Met 195 200 205 Asp His Pro Glu Val Ile His Glu Leu Arg Asn Trp Gly Val Trp Tyr 210 215 220 Thr Asn Thr Leu Asn Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Val Lys His 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Tyr Ser Phe Thr Arg Asp Trp Leu Thr His Val Arg Asn Thr 245 250 255 Thr Gly Lys Pro Met Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Phe Trp Lys Asn Asp Leu 260 265 270 Gly Ala Ile Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Ser Trp Asn His Ser Val 275 280 285 Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Asn Ser Gly 290 295 300 Gly Tyr Tyr Asp Met Arg Asn Ile Leu Asn Gly Ser Val Val Gln Lys 305 310 315 320 His Pro Thr His Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Ser Gln Pro 325 330 335 Gly Glu Ala Leu Glu Ser Phe Val Gln Gln Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala 340 345 350 Tyr Ala Leu Val Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Gly Tyr Pro Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Thr His Gly Val Pro Ala Met Lys Ser 370 375 380 Lys Ile Asp Pro Leu Leu Gln Ala Arg Gln Thr Phe Ala Tyr Gly Thr 385 390 395 400 Gln His Asp Tyr Phe Asp His His Asp Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu 405 410 415 Gly Asn Ser Ser His Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Met Ser Asp 420 425 430 Gly Pro Gly Gly Asn Lys Trp Met Tyr Val Gly Lys Asn Lys Ala Gly 435 440 445 Gln Val Trp Arg Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Thr Gly Thr Val Thr Ile 450 455 460 Asn Ala Asp Gly Trp Gly Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser 465 470 475 480 Val Trp Val Lys Gln 485 3 1455 DNA Bacillus sp. CDS (1)..(1455) SP722 3 cat cat aat ggg aca aat ggg acg atg atg caa tac ttt gaa tgg cac 48 His His Asn Gly Thr Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp His 1 5 10 15 ttg cct aat gat ggg aat cac tgg aat aga tta aga gat gat gct agt 96 Leu Pro Asn Asp Gly Asn His Trp Asn Arg Leu Arg Asp Asp Ala Ser 20 25 30 aat cta aga aat aga ggt ata acc gct att tgg att ccg cct gcc tgg 144 Asn Leu Arg Asn Arg Gly Ile Thr Ala Ile Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Trp 35 40 45 aaa ggg act tcg caa aat gat gtg ggg tat gga gcc tat gat ctt tat 192 Lys Gly Thr Ser Gln Asn Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr 50 55 60 gat tta ggg gaa ttt aat caa aag ggg acg gtt cgt act aag tat ggg 240 Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 80 aca cgt agt caa ttg gag tct gcc atc cat gct tta aag aat aat ggc 288 Thr Arg Ser Gln Leu Glu Ser Ala Ile His Ala Leu Lys Asn Asn Gly 85 90 95 gtt caa gtt tat ggg gat gta gtg atg aac cat aaa gga gga gct gat 336 Val Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Met Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp 100 105 110 gct aca gaa aac gtt ctt gct gtc gag gtg aat cca aat aac cgg aat 384 Ala Thr Glu Asn Val Leu Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Asn Asn Arg Asn 115 120 125 caa gaa ata tct ggg gac tac aca att gag gct tgg act aag ttt gat 432 Gln Glu Ile Ser Gly Asp Tyr Thr Ile Glu Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp 130 135 140 ttt cca ggg agg ggt aat aca tac tca gac ttt aaa tgg cgt tgg tat 480 Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr 145 150 155 160 cat ttc gat ggt gta gat tgg gat caa tca cga caa ttc caa aat cgt 528 His Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Gln Ser Arg Gln Phe Gln Asn Arg 165 170 175 atc tac aaa ttc cga ggt gat ggt aag gca tgg gat tgg gaa gta gat 576 Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly Asp Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp 180 185 190 tcg gaa aat gga aat tat gat tat tta atg tat gca gat gta gat atg 624 Ser Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Val Asp Met 195 200 205 gat cat ccg gag gta gta aat gag ctt aga aga tgg gga gaa tgg tat 672 Asp His Pro Glu Val Val Asn Glu Leu Arg Arg Trp Gly Glu Trp Tyr 210 215 220 aca aat aca tta aat ctt gat gga ttt agg atc gat gcg gtg aag cat 720 Thr Asn Thr Leu Asn Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Val Lys His 225 230 235 240 att aaa tat agc ttt aca cgt gat tgg ttg acc cat gta aga aac gca 768 Ile Lys Tyr Ser Phe Thr Arg Asp Trp Leu Thr His Val Arg Asn Ala 245 250 255 acg gga aaa gaa atg ttt gct gtt gct gaa ttt tgg aaa aat gat tta 816 Thr Gly Lys Glu Met Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Phe Trp Lys Asn Asp Leu 260 265 270 ggt gcc ttg gag aac tat tta aat aaa aca aac tgg aat cat tct gtc 864 Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Asn Trp Asn His Ser Val 275 280 285 ttt gat gtc ccc ctt cat tat aat ctt tat aac gcg tca aat agt gga 912 Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Asn Ser Gly 290 295 300 ggc aac tat gac atg gca aaa ctt ctt aat gga acg gtt gtt caa aag 960 Gly Asn Tyr Asp Met Ala Lys Leu Leu Asn Gly Thr Val Val Gln Lys 305 310 315 320 cat cca atg cat gcc gta act ttt gtg gat aat cac gat tct caa cct 1008 His Pro Met His Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Ser Gln Pro 325 330 335 ggg gaa tca tta gaa tca ttt gta caa gaa tgg ttt aag cca ctt gct 1056 Gly Glu Ser Leu Glu Ser Phe Val Gln Glu Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala 340 345 350 tat gcg ctt att tta aca aga gaa caa ggc tat ccc tct gtc ttc tat 1104 Tyr Ala Leu Ile Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Gly Tyr Pro Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 ggt gac tac tat gga att cca aca cat agt gtc cca gca atg aaa gcc 1152 Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Thr His Ser Val Pro Ala Met Lys Ala 370 375 380 aag att gat cca atc tta gag gcg cgt caa aat ttt gca tat gga aca 1200 Lys Ile Asp Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Arg Gln Asn Phe Ala Tyr Gly Thr 385 390 395 400 caa cat gat tat ttt gac cat cat aat ata atc gga tgg aca cgt gaa 1248 Gln His Asp Tyr Phe Asp His His Asn Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu 405 410 415 gga aat acc acg cat ccc aat tca gga ctt gcg act atc atg tcg gat 1296 Gly Asn Thr Thr His Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Met Ser Asp 420 425 430 ggg cca ggg gga gag aaa tgg atg tac gta ggg caa aat aaa gca ggt 1344 Gly Pro Gly Gly Glu Lys Trp Met Tyr Val Gly Gln Asn Lys Ala Gly 435 440 445 caa gtt tgg cat gac ata act gga aat aaa cca gga aca gtt acg atc 1392 Gln Val Trp His Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Lys Pro Gly Thr Val Thr Ile 450 455 460 aat gca gat gga tgg gct aat ttt tca gta aat gga gga tct gtt tcc 1440 Asn Ala Asp Gly Trp Ala Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser 465 470 475 480 att tgg gtg aaa cga 1455 Ile Trp Val Lys Arg 485 4 485 PRT Bacillus sp. 4 His His Asn Gly Thr Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp His 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Asn Asp Gly Asn His Trp Asn Arg Leu Arg Asp Asp Ala Ser 20 25 30 Asn Leu Arg Asn Arg Gly Ile Thr Ala Ile Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Trp 35 40 45 Lys Gly Thr Ser Gln Asn Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr 50 55 60 Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 80 Thr Arg Ser Gln Leu Glu Ser Ala Ile His Ala Leu Lys Asn Asn Gly 85 90 95 Val Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Met Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp 100 105 110 Ala Thr Glu Asn Val Leu Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Asn Asn Arg Asn 115 120 125 Gln Glu Ile Ser Gly Asp Tyr Thr Ile Glu Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp 130 135 140 Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr 145 150 155 160 His Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Gln Ser Arg Gln Phe Gln Asn Arg 165 170 175 Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly Asp Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp 180 185 190 Ser Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Val Asp Met 195 200 205 Asp His Pro Glu Val Val Asn Glu Leu Arg Arg Trp Gly Glu Trp Tyr 210 215 220 Thr Asn Thr Leu Asn Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Val Lys His 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Tyr Ser Phe Thr Arg Asp Trp Leu Thr His Val Arg Asn Ala 245 250 255 Thr Gly Lys Glu Met Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Phe Trp Lys Asn Asp Leu 260 265 270 Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Asn Trp Asn His Ser Val 275 280 285 Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Asn Ser Gly 290 295 300 Gly Asn Tyr Asp Met Ala Lys Leu Leu Asn Gly Thr Val Val Gln Lys 305 310 315 320 His Pro Met His Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Ser Gln Pro 325 330 335 Gly Glu Ser Leu Glu Ser Phe Val Gln Glu Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala 340 345 350 Tyr Ala Leu Ile Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Gly Tyr Pro Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Thr His Ser Val Pro Ala Met Lys Ala 370 375 380 Lys Ile Asp Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Arg Gln Asn Phe Ala Tyr Gly Thr 385 390 395 400 Gln His Asp Tyr Phe Asp His His Asn Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu 405 410 415 Gly Asn Thr Thr His Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Met Ser Asp 420 425 430 Gly Pro Gly Gly Glu Lys Trp Met Tyr Val Gly Gln Asn Lys Ala Gly 435 440 445 Gln Val Trp His Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Lys Pro Gly Thr Val Thr Ile 450 455 460 Asn Ala Asp Gly Trp Ala Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser 465 470 475 480 Ile Trp Val Lys Arg 485 5 1548 DNA Bacillus stearothermophilus CDS (1)..(1548) BSG 5 gcc gca ccg ttt aac ggc acc atg atg cag tat ttt gaa tgg tac ttg 48 Ala Ala Pro Phe Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr Leu 1 5 10 15 ccg gat gat ggc acg tta tgg acc aaa gtg gcc aat gaa gcc aac aac 96 Pro Asp Asp Gly Thr Leu Trp Thr Lys Val Ala Asn Glu Ala Asn Asn 20 25 30 tta tcc agc ctt ggc atc acc gct ctt tgg ctg ccg ccc gct tac aaa 144 Leu Ser Ser Leu Gly Ile Thr Ala Leu Trp Leu Pro Pro Ala Tyr Lys 35 40 45 gga aca agc cgc agc gac gta ggg tac gga gta tac gac ttg tat gac 192 Gly Thr Ser Arg Ser Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Val Tyr Asp Leu Tyr Asp 50 55 60 ctc ggc gaa ttc aat caa aaa ggg acc gtc cgc aca aaa tac gga aca 240 Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly Thr 65 70 75 80 aaa gct caa tat ctt caa gcc att caa gcc gcc cac gcc gct gga atg 288 Lys Ala Gln Tyr Leu Gln Ala Ile Gln Ala Ala His Ala Ala Gly Met 85 90 95 caa gtg tac gcc gat gtc gtg ttc gac cat aaa ggc ggc gct gac ggc 336 Gln Val Tyr Ala Asp Val Val Phe Asp His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp Gly 100 105 110 acg gaa tgg gtg gac gcc gtc gaa gtc aat ccg tcc gac cgc aac caa 384 Thr Glu Trp Val Asp Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Ser Asp Arg Asn Gln 115 120 125 gaa atc tcg ggc acc tat caa atc caa gca tgg acg aaa ttt gat ttt 432 Glu Ile Ser Gly Thr Tyr Gln Ile Gln Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp Phe 130 135 140 ccc ggg cgg ggc aac acc tac tcc agc ttt aag tgg cgc tgg tac cat 480 Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr Tyr Ser Ser Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr His 145 150 155 160 ttt gac ggc gtt gat tgg gac gaa agc cga aaa ttg agc cgc att tac 528 Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Leu Ser Arg Ile Tyr 165 170 175 aaa ttc cgc ggc atc ggc aaa gcg tgg gat tgg gaa gta gac acg gaa 576 Lys Phe Arg Gly Ile Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp Thr Glu 180 185 190 aac gga aac tat gac tac tta atg tat gcc gac ctt gat atg gat cat 624 Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Leu Asp Met Asp His 195 200 205 ccc gaa gtc gtg acc gag ctg aaa aac tgg ggg aaa tgg tat gtc aac 672 Pro Glu Val Val Thr Glu Leu Lys Asn Trp Gly Lys Trp Tyr Val Asn 210 215 220 aca acg aac att gat ggg ttc cgg ctt gat gcc gtc aag cat att aag 720 Thr Thr Asn Ile Asp Gly Phe Arg Leu Asp Ala Val Lys His Ile Lys 225 230 235 240 ttc agt ttt ttt cct gat tgg ttg tcg tat gtg cgt tct cag act ggc 768 Phe Ser Phe Phe Pro Asp Trp Leu Ser Tyr Val Arg Ser Gln Thr Gly 245 250 255 aag ccg cta ttt acc gtc ggg gaa tat tgg agc tat gac atc aac aag 816 Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Val Gly Glu Tyr Trp Ser Tyr Asp Ile Asn Lys 260 265 270 ttg cac aat tac att acg aaa aca gac gga acg atg tct ttg ttt gat 864 Leu His Asn Tyr Ile Thr Lys Thr Asp Gly Thr Met Ser Leu Phe Asp 275 280 285 gcc ccg tta cac aac aaa ttt tat acc gct tcc aaa tca ggg ggc gca 912 Ala Pro Leu His Asn Lys Phe Tyr Thr Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly Gly Ala 290 295 300 ttt gat atg cgc acg tta atg acc aat act ctc atg aaa gat caa ccg 960 Phe Asp Met Arg Thr Leu Met Thr Asn Thr Leu Met Lys Asp Gln Pro 305 310 315 320 aca ttg gcc gtc acc ttc gtt gat aat cat gac acc gaa ccc ggc caa 1008 Thr Leu Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Thr Glu Pro Gly Gln 325 330 335 gcg ctg cag tca tgg gtc gac cca tgg ttc aaa ccg ttg gct tac gcc 1056 Ala Leu Gln Ser Trp Val Asp Pro Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Tyr Ala 340 345 350 ttt att cta act cgg cag gaa gga tac ccg tgc gtc ttt tat ggt gac 1104 Phe Ile Leu Thr Arg Gln Glu Gly Tyr Pro Cys Val Phe Tyr Gly Asp 355 360 365 tat tat ggc att cca caa tat aac att cct tcg ctg aaa agc aaa atc 1152 Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Gln Tyr Asn Ile Pro Ser Leu Lys Ser Lys Ile 370 375 380 gat ccg ctc ctc atc gcg cgc agg gat tat gct tac gga acg caa cat 1200 Asp Pro Leu Leu Ile Ala Arg Arg Asp Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Thr Gln His 385 390 395 400 gat tat ctt gat cac tcc gac atc atc ggg tgg aca agg gaa ggg ggc 1248 Asp Tyr Leu Asp His Ser Asp Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu Gly Gly 405 410 415 act gaa aaa cca gga tcc gga ctg gcc gca ctg atc acc gat ggg ccg 1296 Thr Glu Lys Pro Gly Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Pro 420 425 430 gga gga agc aaa tgg atg tac gtt ggc aaa caa cac gct gga aaa gtg 1344 Gly Gly Ser Lys Trp Met Tyr Val Gly Lys Gln His Ala Gly Lys Val 435 440 445 ttc tat gac ctt acc ggc aac cgg agt gac acc gtc acc atc aac agt 1392 Phe Tyr Asp Leu Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Asp Thr Val Thr Ile Asn Ser 450 455 460 gat gga tgg ggg gaa ttc aaa gtc aat ggc ggt tcg gtt tcg gtt tgg 1440 Asp Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe Lys Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser Val Trp 465 470 475 480 gtt cct aga aaa acg acc gtt tct acc atc gct cgg ccg atc aca acc 1488 Val Pro Arg Lys Thr Thr Val Ser Thr Ile Ala Arg Pro Ile Thr Thr 485 490 495 cga ccg tgg act ggt gaa ttc gtc cgt tgg acc gaa cca cgg ttg gtg 1536 Arg Pro Trp Thr Gly Glu Phe Val Arg Trp Thr Glu Pro Arg Leu Val 500 505 510 gca tgg cct tga 1548 Ala Trp Pro 515 6 515 PRT Bacillus stearothermophilus 6 Ala Ala Pro Phe Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr Leu 1 5 10 15 Pro Asp Asp Gly Thr Leu Trp Thr Lys Val Ala Asn Glu Ala Asn Asn 20 25 30 Leu Ser Ser Leu Gly Ile Thr Ala Leu Trp Leu Pro Pro Ala Tyr Lys 35 40 45 Gly Thr Ser Arg Ser Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Val Tyr Asp Leu Tyr Asp 50 55 60 Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly Thr 65 70 75 80 Lys Ala Gln Tyr Leu Gln Ala Ile Gln Ala Ala His Ala Ala Gly Met 85 90 95 Gln Val Tyr Ala Asp Val Val Phe Asp His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp Gly 100 105 110 Thr Glu Trp Val Asp Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Ser Asp Arg Asn Gln 115 120 125 Glu Ile Ser Gly Thr Tyr Gln Ile Gln Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp Phe 130 135 140 Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr Tyr Ser Ser Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr His 145 150 155 160 Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Leu Ser Arg Ile Tyr 165 170 175 Lys Phe Arg Gly Ile Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp Thr Glu 180 185 190 Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Leu Asp Met Asp His 195 200 205 Pro Glu Val Val Thr Glu Leu Lys Asn Trp Gly Lys Trp Tyr Val Asn 210 215 220 Thr Thr Asn Ile Asp Gly Phe Arg Leu Asp Ala Val Lys His Ile Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Ser Phe Phe Pro Asp Trp Leu Ser Tyr Val Arg Ser Gln Thr Gly 245 250 255 Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Val Gly Glu Tyr Trp Ser Tyr Asp Ile Asn Lys 260 265 270 Leu His Asn Tyr Ile Thr Lys Thr Asp Gly Thr Met Ser Leu Phe Asp 275 280 285 Ala Pro Leu His Asn Lys Phe Tyr Thr Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly Gly Ala 290 295 300 Phe Asp Met Arg Thr Leu Met Thr Asn Thr Leu Met Lys Asp Gln Pro 305 310 315 320 Thr Leu Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Thr Glu Pro Gly Gln 325 330 335 Ala Leu Gln Ser Trp Val Asp Pro Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Tyr Ala 340 345 350 Phe Ile Leu Thr Arg Gln Glu Gly Tyr Pro Cys Val Phe Tyr Gly Asp 355 360 365 Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Gln Tyr Asn Ile Pro Ser Leu Lys Ser Lys Ile 370 375 380 Asp Pro Leu Leu Ile Ala Arg Arg Asp Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Thr Gln His 385 390 395 400 Asp Tyr Leu Asp His Ser Asp Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu Gly Gly 405 410 415 Thr Glu Lys Pro Gly Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Pro 420 425 430 Gly Gly Ser Lys Trp Met Tyr Val Gly Lys Gln His Ala Gly Lys Val 435 440 445 Phe Tyr Asp Leu Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Asp Thr Val Thr Ile Asn Ser 450 455 460 Asp Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe Lys Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser Val Trp 465 470 475 480 Val Pro Arg Lys Thr Thr Val Ser Thr Ile Ala Arg Pro Ile Thr Thr 485 490 495 Arg Pro Trp Thr Gly Glu Phe Val Arg Trp Thr Glu Pro Arg Leu Val 500 505 510 Ala Trp Pro 515 7 1920 DNA Bacillus licheniformis CDS (421)..(1872) Termamyl 7 cggaagattg gaagtacaaa aataagcaaa agattgtcaa tcatgtcatg agccatgcgg 60 gagacggaaa aatcgtctta atgcacgata tttatgcaac gttcgcagat gctgctgaag 120 agattattaa aaagctgaaa gcaaaaggct atcaattggt aactgtatct cagcttgaag 180 aagtgaagaa gcagagaggc tattgaataa atgagtagaa gcgccatatc ggcgcttttc 240 ttttggaaga aaatataggg aaaatggtac ttgttaaaaa ttcggaatat ttatacaaca 300 tcatatgttt cacattgaaa ggggaggaga atcatgaaac aacaaaaacg gctttacgcc 360 cgattgctga cgctgttatt tgcgctcatc ttcttgctgc ctcattctgc agcagcggcg 420 gca aat ctt aat ggg acg ctg atg cag tat ttt gaa tgg tac atg ccc 468 Ala Asn Leu Asn Gly Thr Leu Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr Met Pro 1 5 10 15 aat gac ggc caa cat tgg agg cgt ttg caa aac gac tcg gca tat ttg 516 Asn Asp Gly Gln His Trp Arg Arg Leu Gln Asn Asp Ser Ala Tyr Leu 20 25 30 gct gaa cac ggt att act gcc gtc tgg att ccc ccg gca tat aag gga 564 Ala Glu His Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Tyr Lys Gly 35 40 45 acg agc caa gcg gat gtg ggc tac ggt gct tac gac ctt tat gat tta 612 Thr Ser Gln Ala Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr Asp Leu 50 55 60 ggg gag ttt cat caa aaa ggg acg gtt cgg aca aag tac ggc aca aaa 660 Gly Glu Phe His Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly Thr Lys 65 70 75 80 gga gag ctg caa tct gcg atc aaa agt ctt cat tcc cgc gac att aac 708 Gly Glu Leu Gln Ser Ala Ile Lys Ser Leu His Ser Arg Asp Ile Asn 85 90 95 gtt tac ggg gat gtg gtc atc aac cac aaa ggc ggc gct gat gcg acc 756 Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Ile Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp Ala Thr 100 105 110 gaa gat gta acc gcg gtt gaa gtc gat ccc gct gac cgc aac cgc gta 804 Glu Asp Val Thr Ala Val Glu Val Asp Pro Ala Asp Arg Asn Arg Val 115 120 125 att tca gga gaa cac cta att aaa gcc tgg aca cat ttt cat ttt ccg 852 Ile Ser Gly Glu His Leu Ile Lys Ala Trp Thr His Phe His Phe Pro 130 135 140 ggg cgc ggc agc aca tac agc gat ttt aaa tgg cat tgg tac cat ttt 900 Gly Arg Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp His Trp Tyr His Phe 145 150 155 160 gac gga acc gat tgg gac gag tcc cga aag ctg aac cgc atc tat aag 948 Asp Gly Thr Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Ile Tyr Lys 165 170 175 ttt caa gga aag gct tgg gat tgg gaa gtt tcc aat gaa aac ggc aac 996 Phe Gln Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Ser Asn Glu Asn Gly Asn 180 185 190 tat gat tat ttg atg tat gcc gac atc gat tat gac cat cct gat gtc 1044 Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Ile Asp Tyr Asp His Pro Asp Val 195 200 205 gca gca gaa att aag aga tgg ggc act tgg tat gcc aat gaa ctg caa 1092 Ala Ala Glu Ile Lys Arg Trp Gly Thr Trp Tyr Ala Asn Glu Leu Gln 210 215 220 ttg gac ggt ttc cgt ctt gat gct gtc aaa cac att aaa ttt tct ttt 1140 Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Leu Asp Ala Val Lys His Ile Lys Phe Ser Phe 225 230 235 240 ttg cgg gat tgg gtt aat cat gtc agg gaa aaa acg ggg aag gaa atg 1188 Leu Arg Asp Trp Val Asn His Val Arg Glu Lys Thr Gly Lys Glu Met 245 250 255 ttt acg gta gct gaa tat tgg cag aat gac ttg ggc gcg ctg gaa aac 1236 Phe Thr Val Ala Glu Tyr Trp Gln Asn Asp Leu Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn 260 265 270 tat ttg aac aaa aca aat ttt aat cat tca gtg ttt gac gtg ccg ctt 1284 Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Asn Phe Asn His Ser Val Phe Asp Val Pro Leu 275 280 285 cat tat cag ttc cat gct gca tcg aca cag gga ggc ggc tat gat atg 1332 His Tyr Gln Phe His Ala Ala Ser Thr Gln Gly Gly Gly Tyr Asp Met 290 295 300 agg aaa ttg ctg aac ggt acg gtc gtt tcc aag cat ccg ttg aaa tcg 1380 Arg Lys Leu Leu Asn Gly Thr Val Val Ser Lys His Pro Leu Lys Ser 305 310 315 320 gtt aca ttt gtc gat aac cat gat aca cag ccg ggg caa tcg ctt gag 1428 Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Thr Gln Pro Gly Gln Ser Leu Glu 325 330 335 tcg act gtc caa aca tgg ttt aag ccg ctt gct tac gct ttt att ctc 1476 Ser Thr Val Gln Thr Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Tyr Ala Phe Ile Leu 340 345 350 aca agg gaa tct gga tac cct cag gtt ttc tac ggg gat atg tac ggg 1524 Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly Tyr Pro Gln Val Phe Tyr Gly Asp Met Tyr Gly 355 360 365 acg aaa gga gac tcc cag cgc gaa att cct gcc ttg aaa cac aaa att 1572 Thr Lys Gly Asp Ser Gln Arg Glu Ile Pro Ala Leu Lys His Lys Ile 370 375 380 gaa ccg atc tta aaa gcg aga aaa cag tat gcg tac gga gca cag cat 1620 Glu Pro Ile Leu Lys Ala Arg Lys Gln Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Ala Gln His 385 390 395 400 gat tat ttc gac cac cat gac att gtc ggc tgg aca agg gaa ggc gac 1668 Asp Tyr Phe Asp His His Asp Ile Val Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu Gly Asp 405 410 415 agc tcg gtt gca aat tca ggt ttg gcg gca tta ata aca gac gga ccc 1716 Ser Ser Val Ala Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Pro 420 425 430 ggt ggg gca aag cga atg tat gtc ggc cgg caa aac gcc ggt gag aca 1764 Gly Gly Ala Lys Arg Met Tyr Val Gly Arg Gln Asn Ala Gly Glu Thr 435 440 445 tgg cat gac att acc gga aac cgt tcg gag ccg gtt gtc atc aat tcg 1812 Trp His Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Glu Pro Val Val Ile Asn Ser 450 455 460 gaa ggc tgg gga gag ttt cac gta aac ggc ggg tcg gtt tca att tat 1860 Glu Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe His Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser Ile Tyr 465 470 475 480 gtt caa aga tag aagagcagag aggacggatt tcctgaagga aatccgtttt 1912 Val Gln Arg tttatttt 1920 8 483 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 8 Ala Asn Leu Asn Gly Thr Leu Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr Met Pro 1 5 10 15 Asn Asp Gly Gln His Trp Arg Arg Leu Gln Asn Asp Ser Ala Tyr Leu 20 25 30 Ala Glu His Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Tyr Lys Gly 35 40 45 Thr Ser Gln Ala Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr Asp Leu 50 55 60 Gly Glu Phe His Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly Thr Lys 65 70 75 80 Gly Glu Leu Gln Ser Ala Ile Lys Ser Leu His Ser Arg Asp Ile Asn 85 90 95 Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Ile Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp Ala Thr 100 105 110 Glu Asp Val Thr Ala Val Glu Val Asp Pro Ala Asp Arg Asn Arg Val 115 120 125 Ile Ser Gly Glu His Leu Ile Lys Ala Trp Thr His Phe His Phe Pro 130 135 140 Gly Arg Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp His Trp Tyr His Phe 145 150 155 160 Asp Gly Thr Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Ile Tyr Lys 165 170 175 Phe Gln Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Ser Asn Glu Asn Gly Asn 180 185 190 Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Ile Asp Tyr Asp His Pro Asp Val 195 200 205 Ala Ala Glu Ile Lys Arg Trp Gly Thr Trp Tyr Ala Asn Glu Leu Gln 210 215 220 Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Leu Asp Ala Val Lys His Ile Lys Phe Ser Phe 225 230 235 240 Leu Arg Asp Trp Val Asn His Val Arg Glu Lys Thr Gly Lys Glu Met 245 250 255 Phe Thr Val Ala Glu Tyr Trp Gln Asn Asp Leu Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn 260 265 270 Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Asn Phe Asn His Ser Val Phe Asp Val Pro Leu 275 280 285 His Tyr Gln Phe His Ala Ala Ser Thr Gln Gly Gly Gly Tyr Asp Met 290 295 300 Arg Lys Leu Leu Asn Gly Thr Val Val Ser Lys His Pro Leu Lys Ser 305 310 315 320 Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Thr Gln Pro Gly Gln Ser Leu Glu 325 330 335 Ser Thr Val Gln Thr Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Tyr Ala Phe Ile Leu 340 345 350 Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly Tyr Pro Gln Val Phe Tyr Gly Asp Met Tyr Gly 355 360 365 Thr Lys Gly Asp Ser Gln Arg Glu Ile Pro Ala Leu Lys His Lys Ile 370 375 380 Glu Pro Ile Leu Lys Ala Arg Lys Gln Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Ala Gln His 385 390 395 400 Asp Tyr Phe Asp His His Asp Ile Val Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu Gly Asp 405 410 415 Ser Ser Val Ala Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Pro 420 425 430 Gly Gly Ala Lys Arg Met Tyr Val Gly Arg Gln Asn Ala Gly Glu Thr 435 440 445 Trp His Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Glu Pro Val Val Ile Asn Ser 450 455 460 Glu Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe His Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser Ile Tyr 465 470 475 480 Val Gln Arg 9 2084 DNA Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CDS (343)..(1794) BAN 9 gccccgcaca tacgaaaaga ctggctgaaa acattgagcc tttgatgact gatgatttgg 60 ctgaagaagt ggatcgattg tttgagaaaa gaagaagacc ataaaaatac cttgtctgtc 120 atcagacagg gtatttttta tgctgtccag actgtccgct gtgtaaaaat aaggaataaa 180 ggggggttgt tattatttta ctgatatgta aaatataatt tgtataagaa aatgagaggg 240 agaggaaaca tgattcaaaa acgaaagcgg acagtttcgt tcagacttgt gcttatgtgc 300 acgctgttat ttgtcagttt gccgattaca aaaacatcag cc gta aat ggc acg 354 Val Asn Gly Thr 1 ctg atg cag tat ttt gaa tgg tat acg ccg aac gac ggc cag cat tgg 402 Leu Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr Thr Pro Asn Asp Gly Gln His Trp 5 10 15 20 aaa cga ttg cag aat gat gcg gaa cat tta tcg gat atc gga atc act 450 Lys Arg Leu Gln Asn Asp Ala Glu His Leu Ser Asp Ile Gly Ile Thr 25 30 35 gcc gtc tgg att cct ccc gca tac aaa gga ttg agc caa tcc gat aac 498 Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Tyr Lys Gly Leu Ser Gln Ser Asp Asn 40 45 50 gga tac gga cct tat gat ttg tat gat tta gga gaa ttc cag caa aaa 546 Gly Tyr Gly Pro Tyr Asp Leu Tyr Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Gln Gln Lys 55 60 65 ggg acg gtc aga acg aaa tac ggc aca aaa tca gag ctt caa gat gcg 594 Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly Thr Lys Ser Glu Leu Gln Asp Ala 70 75 80 atc ggc tca ctg cat tcc cgg aac gtc caa gta tac gga gat gtg gtt 642 Ile Gly Ser Leu His Ser Arg Asn Val Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val 85 90 95 100 ttg aat cat aag gct ggt gct gat gca aca gaa gat gta act gcc gtc 690 Leu Asn His Lys Ala Gly Ala Asp Ala Thr Glu Asp Val Thr Ala Val 105 110 115 gaa gtc aat ccg gcc aat aga aat cag gaa act tcg gag gaa tat caa 738 Glu Val Asn Pro Ala Asn Arg Asn Gln Glu Thr Ser Glu Glu Tyr Gln 120 125 130 atc aaa gcg tgg acg gat ttt cgt ttt ccg ggc cgt gga aac acg tac 786 Ile Lys Ala Trp Thr Asp Phe Arg Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr Tyr 135 140 145 agt gat ttt aaa tgg cat tgg tat cat ttc gac gga gcg gac tgg gat 834 Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp His Trp Tyr His Phe Asp Gly Ala Asp Trp Asp 150 155 160 gaa tcc cgg aag atc agc cgc atc ttt aag ttt cgt ggg gaa gga aaa 882 Glu Ser Arg Lys Ile Ser Arg Ile Phe Lys Phe Arg Gly Glu Gly Lys 165 170 175 180 gcg tgg gat tgg gaa gta tca agt gaa aac ggc aac tat gac tat tta 930 Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Ser Ser Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu 185 190 195 atg tat gct gat gtt gac tac gac cac cct gat gtc gtg gca gag aca 978 Met Tyr Ala Asp Val Asp Tyr Asp His Pro Asp Val Val Ala Glu Thr 200 205 210 aaa aaa tgg ggt atc tgg tat gcg aat gaa ctg tca tta gac ggc ttc 1026 Lys Lys Trp Gly Ile Trp Tyr Ala Asn Glu Leu Ser Leu Asp Gly Phe 215 220 225 cgt att gat gcc gcc aaa cat att aaa ttt tca ttt ctg cgt gat tgg 1074 Arg Ile Asp Ala Ala Lys His Ile Lys Phe Ser Phe Leu Arg Asp Trp 230 235 240 gtt cag gcg gtc aga cag gcg acg gga aaa gaa atg ttt acg gtt gcg 1122 Val Gln Ala Val Arg Gln Ala Thr Gly Lys Glu Met Phe Thr Val Ala 245 250 255 260 gag tat tgg cag aat aat gcc ggg aaa ctc gaa aac tac ttg aat aaa 1170 Glu Tyr Trp Gln Asn Asn Ala Gly Lys Leu Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys 265 270 275 aca agc ttt aat caa tcc gtg ttt gat gtt ccg ctt cat ttc aat tta 1218 Thr Ser Phe Asn Gln Ser Val Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Phe Asn Leu 280 285 290 cag gcg gct tcc tca caa gga ggc gga tat gat atg agg cgt ttg ctg 1266 Gln Ala Ala Ser Ser Gln Gly Gly Gly Tyr Asp Met Arg Arg Leu Leu 295 300 305 gac ggt acc gtt gtg tcc agg cat ccg gaa aag gcg gtt aca ttt gtt 1314 Asp Gly Thr Val Val Ser Arg His Pro Glu Lys Ala Val Thr Phe Val 310 315 320 gaa aat cat gac aca cag ccg gga cag tca ttg gaa tcg aca gtc caa 1362 Glu Asn His Asp Thr Gln Pro Gly Gln Ser Leu Glu Ser Thr Val Gln 325 330 335 340 act tgg ttt aaa ccg ctt gca tac gcc ttt att ttg aca aga gaa tcc 1410 Thr Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Tyr Ala Phe Ile Leu Thr Arg Glu Ser 345 350 355 ggt tat cct cag gtg ttc tat ggg gat atg tac ggg aca aaa ggg aca 1458 Gly Tyr Pro Gln Val Phe Tyr Gly Asp Met Tyr Gly Thr Lys Gly Thr 360 365 370 tcg cca aag gaa att ccc tca ctg aaa gat aat ata gag ccg att tta 1506 Ser Pro Lys Glu Ile Pro Ser Leu Lys Asp Asn Ile Glu Pro Ile Leu 375 380 385 aaa gcg cgt aag gag tac gca tac ggg ccc cag cac gat tat att gac 1554 Lys Ala Arg Lys Glu Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Pro Gln His Asp Tyr Ile Asp 390 395 400 cac ccg gat gtg atc gga tgg acg agg gaa ggt gac agc tcc gcc gcc 1602 His Pro Asp Val Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu Gly Asp Ser Ser Ala Ala 405 410 415 420 aaa tca ggt ttg gcc gct tta atc acg gac gga ccc ggc gga tca aag 1650 Lys Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Lys 425 430 435 cgg atg tat gcc ggc ctg aaa aat gcc ggc gag aca tgg tat gac ata 1698 Arg Met Tyr Ala Gly Leu Lys Asn Ala Gly Glu Thr Trp Tyr Asp Ile 440 445 450 acg ggc aac cgt tca gat act gta aaa atc gga tct gac ggc tgg gga 1746 Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Asp Thr Val Lys Ile Gly Ser Asp Gly Trp Gly 455 460 465 gag ttt cat gta aac gat ggg tcc gtc tcc att tat gtt cag aaa taa 1794 Glu Phe His Val Asn Asp Gly Ser Val Ser Ile Tyr Val Gln Lys 470 475 480 ggtaataaaa aaacacctcc aagctgagtg cgggtatcag cttggaggtg cgtttatttt 1854 ttcagccgta tgacaaggtc ggcatcaggt gtgacaaata cggtatgctg gctgtcatag 1914 gtgacaaatc cgggttttgc gccgtttggc tttttcacat gtctgatttt tgtataatca 1974 acaggcacgg agccggaatc tttcgccttg gaaaaataag cggcgatcgt agctgcttcc 2034 aatatggatt gttcatcggg atcgctgctt ttaatcacaa cgtgggatcc 2084 10 483 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 10 Val Asn Gly Thr Leu Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr Thr Pro Asn Asp 1 5 10 15 Gly Gln His Trp Lys Arg Leu Gln Asn Asp Ala Glu His Leu Ser Asp 20 25 30 Ile Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Tyr Lys Gly Leu Ser 35 40 45 Gln Ser Asp Asn Gly Tyr Gly Pro Tyr Asp Leu Tyr Asp Leu Gly Glu 50 55 60 Phe Gln Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly Thr Lys Ser Glu 65 70 75 80 Leu Gln Asp Ala Ile Gly Ser Leu His Ser Arg Asn Val Gln Val Tyr 85 90 95 Gly Asp Val Val Leu Asn His Lys Ala Gly Ala Asp Ala Thr Glu Asp 100 105 110 Val Thr Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Ala Asn Arg Asn Gln Glu Thr Ser 115 120 125 Glu Glu Tyr Gln Ile Lys Ala Trp Thr Asp Phe Arg Phe Pro Gly Arg 130 135 140 Gly Asn Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp His Trp Tyr His Phe Asp Gly 145 150 155 160 Ala Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Ile Ser Arg Ile Phe Lys Phe Arg 165 170 175 Gly Glu Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Ser Ser Glu Asn Gly Asn 180 185 190 Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Val Asp Tyr Asp His Pro Asp Val 195 200 205 Val Ala Glu Thr Lys Lys Trp Gly Ile Trp Tyr Ala Asn Glu Leu Ser 210 215 220 Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Ala Lys His Ile Lys Phe Ser Phe 225 230 235 240 Leu Arg Asp Trp Val Gln Ala Val Arg Gln Ala Thr Gly Lys Glu Met 245 250 255 Phe Thr Val Ala Glu Tyr Trp Gln Asn Asn Ala Gly Lys Leu Glu Asn 260 265 270 Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Ser Phe Asn Gln Ser Val Phe Asp Val Pro Leu 275 280 285 His Phe Asn Leu Gln Ala Ala Ser Ser Gln Gly Gly Gly Tyr Asp Met 290 295 300 Arg Arg Leu Leu Asp Gly Thr Val Val Ser Arg His Pro Glu Lys Ala 305 310 315 320 Val Thr Phe Val Glu Asn His Asp Thr Gln Pro Gly Gln Ser Leu Glu 325 330 335 Ser Thr Val Gln Thr Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Tyr Ala Phe Ile Leu 340 345 350 Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly Tyr Pro Gln Val Phe Tyr Gly Asp Met Tyr Gly 355 360 365 Thr Lys Gly Thr Ser Pro Lys Glu Ile Pro Ser Leu Lys Asp Asn Ile 370 375 380 Glu Pro Ile Leu Lys Ala Arg Lys Glu Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Pro Gln His 385 390 395 400 Asp Tyr Ile Asp His Pro Asp Val Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu Gly Asp 405 410 415 Ser Ser Ala Ala Lys Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Pro 420 425 430 Gly Gly Ser Lys Arg Met Tyr Ala Gly Leu Lys Asn Ala Gly Glu Thr 435 440 445 Trp Tyr Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Asp Thr Val Lys Ile Gly Ser 450 455 460 Asp Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe His Val Asn Asp Gly Ser Val Ser Ile Tyr 465 470 475 480 Val Gln Lys 11 1458 DNA Bacillus sp. CDS (1)..(1458) AA560 11 cac cat aat ggt acg aac ggc aca atg atg cag tac ttt gaa tgg tat 48 His His Asn Gly Thr Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr 1 5 10 15 cta cca aat gac gga aac cat tgg aat aga tta agg tct gat gca agt 96 Leu Pro Asn Asp Gly Asn His Trp Asn Arg Leu Arg Ser Asp Ala Ser 20 25 30 aac cta aaa gat aaa ggg atc tca gcg gtt tgg att cct cct gca tgg 144 Asn Leu Lys Asp Lys Gly Ile Ser Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Trp 35 40 45 aag ggt gcc tct caa aat gat gtg ggg tat ggt gct tat gat ctg tat 192 Lys Gly Ala Ser Gln Asn Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr 50 55 60 gat tta gga gaa ttc aat caa aaa gga acc att cgt aca aaa tat gga 240 Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Ile Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 80 acg cgc aat cag tta caa gct gca gtt aac gcc ttg aaa agt aat gga 288 Thr Arg Asn Gln Leu Gln Ala Ala Val Asn Ala Leu Lys Ser Asn Gly 85 90 95 att caa gtg tat ggc gat gtt gta atg aat cat aaa ggg gga gca gac 336 Ile Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Met Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp 100 105 110 gct acc gaa atg gtt agg gca gtt gaa gta aac ccg aat aat aga aat 384 Ala Thr Glu Met Val Arg Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Asn Asn Arg Asn 115 120 125 caa gaa gtg tcc ggt gaa tat aca att gag gct tgg aca aag ttt gac 432 Gln Glu Val Ser Gly Glu Tyr Thr Ile Glu Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp 130 135 140 ttt cca gga cga ggt aat act cat tca aac ttc aaa tgg aga tgg tat 480 Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr His Ser Asn Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr 145 150 155 160 cac ttt gat gga gta gat tgg gat cag tca cgt aag ctg aac aat cga 528 His Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Gln Ser Arg Lys Leu Asn Asn Arg 165 170 175 att tat aaa ttt aga ggt gat gga aaa ggg tgg gat tgg gaa gtc gat 576 Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly Asp Gly Lys Gly Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp 180 185 190 aca gaa aac ggt aac tat gat tac cta atg tat gca gat att gac atg 624 Thr Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Ile Asp Met 195 200 205 gat cac cca gag gta gtg aat gag cta aga aat tgg ggt gtt tgg tat 672 Asp His Pro Glu Val Val Asn Glu Leu Arg Asn Trp Gly Val Trp Tyr 210 215 220 acg aat aca tta ggc ctt gat ggt ttt aga ata gat gca gta aaa cat 720 Thr Asn Thr Leu Gly Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Val Lys His 225 230 235 240 ata aaa tac agc ttt act cgt gat tgg att aat cat gtt aga agt gca 768 Ile Lys Tyr Ser Phe Thr Arg Asp Trp Ile Asn His Val Arg Ser Ala 245 250 255 act ggc aaa aat atg ttt gcg gtt gcg gaa ttt tgg aaa aat gat tta 816 Thr Gly Lys Asn Met Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Phe Trp Lys Asn Asp Leu 260 265 270 ggt gct att gaa aac tat tta aac aaa aca aac tgg aac cat tca gtc 864 Gly Ala Ile Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Asn Trp Asn His Ser Val 275 280 285 ttt gat gtt ccg ctg cac tat aac ctc tat aat gct tca aaa agc gga 912 Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly 290 295 300 ggg aat tat gat atg agg caa ata ttt aat ggt aca gtc gtg caa aga 960 Gly Asn Tyr Asp Met Arg Gln Ile Phe Asn Gly Thr Val Val Gln Arg 305 310 315 320 cat cca atg cat gct gtt aca ttt gtt gat aat cat gat tcg caa cct 1008 His Pro Met His Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Ser Gln Pro 325 330 335 gaa gaa gct tta gag tct ttt gtt gaa gaa tgg ttc aaa cca tta gcg 1056 Glu Glu Ala Leu Glu Ser Phe Val Glu Glu Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala 340 345 350 tat gct ttg aca tta aca cgt gaa caa ggc tac cct tct gta ttt tat 1104 Tyr Ala Leu Thr Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Gly Tyr Pro Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 gga gat tat tat ggc att cca acg cat ggt gta cca gcg atg aaa tcg 1152 Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Thr His Gly Val Pro Ala Met Lys Ser 370 375 380 aaa att gac ccg att cta gaa gcg cgt caa aag tat gca tat gga aga 1200 Lys Ile Asp Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Arg Gln Lys Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Arg 385 390 395 400 caa aat gac tac tta gac cat cat aat atc atc ggt tgg aca cgt gaa 1248 Gln Asn Asp Tyr Leu Asp His His Asn Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu 405 410 415 ggg aat aca gca cac ccc aac tcc ggt tta gct act atc atg tcc gat 1296 Gly Asn Thr Ala His Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Met Ser Asp 420 425 430 ggg gca gga gga aat aag tgg atg ttt gtt ggg cgt aat aaa gct ggt 1344 Gly Ala Gly Gly Asn Lys Trp Met Phe Val Gly Arg Asn Lys Ala Gly 435 440 445 caa gtt tgg acc gat atc act gga aat cgt gca ggt act gtt acg att 1392 Gln Val Trp Thr Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Ala Gly Thr Val Thr Ile 450 455 460 aat gct gat gga tgg ggt aat ttt tct gta aat gga gga tca gtt tct 1440 Asn Ala Asp Gly Trp Gly Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser 465 470 475 480 att tgg gta aac aaa taa 1458 Ile Trp Val Asn Lys 485 12 485 PRT Bacillus sp. 12 His His Asn Gly Thr Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Asn Asp Gly Asn His Trp Asn Arg Leu Arg Ser Asp Ala Ser 20 25 30 Asn Leu Lys Asp Lys Gly Ile Ser Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Trp 35 40 45 Lys Gly Ala Ser Gln Asn Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr 50 55 60 Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Ile Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 80 Thr Arg Asn Gln Leu Gln Ala Ala Val Asn Ala Leu Lys Ser Asn Gly 85 90 95 Ile Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Met Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp 100 105 110 Ala Thr Glu Met Val Arg Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Asn Asn Arg Asn 115 120 125 Gln Glu Val Ser Gly Glu Tyr Thr Ile Glu Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe Asp 130 135 140 Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr His Ser Asn Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr 145 150 155 160 His Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Gln Ser Arg Lys Leu Asn Asn Arg 165 170 175 Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly Asp Gly Lys Gly Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp 180 185 190 Thr Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Ile Asp Met 195 200 205 Asp His Pro Glu Val Val Asn Glu Leu Arg Asn Trp Gly Val Trp Tyr 210 215 220 Thr Asn Thr Leu Gly Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Val Lys His 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Tyr Ser Phe Thr Arg Asp Trp Ile Asn His Val Arg Ser Ala 245 250 255 Thr Gly Lys Asn Met Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Phe Trp Lys Asn Asp Leu 260 265 270 Gly Ala Ile Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Asn Trp Asn His Ser Val 275 280 285 Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly 290 295 300 Gly Asn Tyr Asp Met Arg Gln Ile Phe Asn Gly Thr Val Val Gln Arg 305 310 315 320 His Pro Met His Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Ser Gln Pro 325 330 335 Glu Glu Ala Leu Glu Ser Phe Val Glu Glu Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala 340 345 350 Tyr Ala Leu Thr Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Gly Tyr Pro Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Thr His Gly Val Pro Ala Met Lys Ser 370 375 380 Lys Ile Asp Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Arg Gln Lys Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Arg 385 390 395 400 Gln Asn Asp Tyr Leu Asp His His Asn Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu 405 410 415 Gly Asn Thr Ala His Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Met Ser Asp 420 425 430 Gly Ala Gly Gly Asn Lys Trp Met Phe Val Gly Arg Asn Lys Ala Gly 435 440 445 Gln Val Trp Thr Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Ala Gly Thr Val Thr Ile 450 455 460 Asn Ala Asp Gly Trp Gly Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser 465 470 475 480 Ile Trp Val Asn Lys 485 13 485 PRT bacillus sp. 707 13 His His Asn Gly Thr Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Tyr 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Asn Asp Gly Asn His Trp Asn Arg Leu Asn Ser Asp Ala Ser 20 25 30 Asn Leu Lys Ser Lys Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Trp 35 40 45 Lys Gly Ala Ser Gln Asn Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Tyr 50 55 60 Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gly 65 70 75 80 Thr Arg Ser Gln Leu Gln Ala Ala Val Thr Ser Leu Lys Asn Asn Gly 85 90 95 Ile Gln Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Met Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala Asp 100 105 110 Ala Thr Glu Met Val Arg Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Asn Asn Arg Asn 115 120 125 Gln Glu Val Thr Gly Glu Tyr Thr Ile Glu Ala Trp Thr Arg Phe Asp 130 135 140 Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr His Ser Ser Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Tyr 145 150 155 160 His Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Gln Ser Arg Arg Leu Asn Asn Arg 165 170 175 Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly His Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp 180 185 190 Thr Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Ile Asp Met 195 200 205 Asp His Pro Glu Val Val Asn Glu Leu Arg Asn Trp Gly Val Trp Tyr 210 215 220 Thr Asn Thr Leu Gly Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Val Lys His 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Tyr Ser Phe Thr Arg Asp Trp Ile Asn His Val Arg Ser Ala 245 250 255 Thr Gly Lys Asn Met Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Phe Trp Lys Asn Asp Leu 260 265 270 Gly Ala Ile Glu Asn Tyr Leu Gln Lys Thr Asn Trp Asn His Ser Val 275 280 285 Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly 290 295 300 Gly Asn Tyr Asp Met Arg Asn Ile Phe Asn Gly Thr Val Val Gln Arg 305 310 315 320 His Pro Ser His Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Ser Gln Pro 325 330 335 Glu Glu Ala Leu Glu Ser Phe Val Glu Glu Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala 340 345 350 Tyr Ala Leu Thr Leu Thr Arg Glu Gln Gly Tyr Pro Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Thr His Gly Val Pro Ala Met Arg Ser 370 375 380 Lys Ile Asp Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Arg Gln Lys Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Lys 385 390 395 400 Gln Asn Asp Tyr Leu Asp His His Asn Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu 405 410 415 Gly Asn Thr Ala His Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Met Ser Asp 420 425 430 Gly Ala Gly Gly Ser Lys Trp Met Phe Val Gly Arg Asn Lys Ala Gly 435 440 445 Gln Val Trp Ser Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Thr Gly Thr Val Thr Ile 450 455 460 Asn Ala Asp Gly Trp Gly Asn Phe Ser Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser 465 470 475 480 Ile Trp Val Asn Lys 485 14 60 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer 14 caaaatcgta tctacaaatt cmrkrsyarg dvktgggatt sggaagtaga ttcggaaaat 60 15 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer 15 gaatttgtag atacgatttt g 21 16 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer 16 cgattgctga cgctgttatt tgcg 24 17 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer 17 cttgttccct tgtcagaacc aatg 24 18 30 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer 18 gtcatagttg ccgaaatctg tatcgacttc 30 19 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer 19 gacctgcagt caggcaacta 20 20 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer 20 tagagtcgac ctgcaggcat 20 

1. A variant of a parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase, comprising an alteration at one or more of the following positions: R28, R118, N174; R181, G182, D183, G184, G186, W189, N195, M202, Y298, N299, K302, S303, N306, R310, N314; R320, H324, E345, Y396, R400, W439, R444, N445, K446, Q449, R458, N471, and N484, wherein (a) the alteration(s) are independently (i) an insertion of an amino acid downstream of the amino acid which occupies the position, (ii) a deletion of the amino acid which occupies the position, or (iii) a substitution of the amino acid which occupies the position with a different amino acid, (b) the variant has alpha-amylase activity and (c) each position is numbered according to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 12. 2. The variant of claim 1, which further comprises one or more of the following mutations: Delta G184; Delta (R181-G182); Delta (D183-G184); R28N,K; S94K; R118K; N125A,R,K; N174D; R181Q,E,K; G186R; W189R,K; N195F; M202L; Y298H,F; N299A; K302R, S303Q, N306G,D,R,K; R310A,K,Q,E,H,D,N; N314D; R320K; H324K; E345R,D,K,N; Y396F; R400T,K; W439R; R444K; N445K,Q; K446N; Q449E; R458K; N471E; N484Q.
 3. The variant of claim 1 or 2, which further comprises a mutation in M202.
 4. The variant of claim 3, wherein the mutation is M202L,T.
 5. The variant of any of claims 1-4, which further comprises a mutation in N195.
 6. The variant of claim 5, wherein the mutation is N195F.
 7. The variant of any of claims 1-6, which further comprises a mutation in G186.
 8. The variant of claim 7, wherein the mutation is G186R.
 9. The variant of any of claims 1-8, which further comprises a mutation in R181.
 10. The variant of claim 9, wherein the mutation is R181Q.
 11. The variant of any of claims 1-10, wherein the parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase is derived from a strain of B. licheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. stearothermophilus, Bacillus sp. NCIB 12289, NCIB 12512, NCIB 12513 or DSM 9375, or DSMZ no. 12649, KSM AP1378, or KSM K36 or KSM K38.
 12. The variant of any of claims 1-11, wherein the parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or
 13. 13. The variant of any of claims 1-11, wherein the parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase has an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to SEQ ID NO: 4 of at least 60%, preferably 70%, more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably at least about 90%, even more preferably at least 95%, even more preferably at least 97%, and even more preferably at least 99%.
 14. The variant of any of claims 1-11, wherein the parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence, which hydridizes under low, preferably medium, preferred high stringency conditions, with the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 11. 15. The variant of any of claims 1-14, which variant has altered solubility, preferably increased solubility, in particular under washing, dish washing or hard surface cleaning conditions.
 16. A DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding a variant of any of claims 1-15.
 17. A recombinant expression vector which carries a DNA construct of claim
 16. 18. A cell which is transformed with a DNA construct of claim 16 or a vector of claim
 17. 19. A cell of claim 18, which is a microorganism, preferably a bacterium or a fungus, in particular a gram-positive bacterium, such as Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus lautus Bacillus lentus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, or Bacillus thuringiensis.
 20. A composition comprising a variant of any of claims 1-15.
 21. A detergent additive comprising a variant of any of claims 1-15, optionally in the form of a non-dusting granulate, stabilised liquid or protected enzyme.
 22. A detergent additive of claim 21, which contains 0.02-200 mg of enzyme protein/g of the additive.
 23. A detergent additive of claim 21 or 22, which additionally comprises another enzyme such as an amylase or another amylolytic enzyme, such as glucoamylase, cellulase, CGTase, lipase, maltogenic amylase, mannanase, peroxidase, or protease.
 24. A detergent composition comprising a variant of any of claims 1-15 and a surfactant.
 25. A detergent composition of claim 24, which additionally comprises another enzyme such as another amylolytic enzyme, a cellulase, CGTase, lipase, maltogenic amylase, mannanase, peroxidase, or protease.
 26. A manual or automatic dishwashing detergent composition comprising a variant of any of claims 1-15.
 27. A dishwashing detergent composition of claim 26, which additionally comprises another enzyme such as an amylase or another amylolytic enzyme, such as glucoamylase, cellulase, CGTase, lipase, maltogenic amylase, mannanase, peroxidase, or protease.
 28. A manual or automatic laundry washing composition comprising a variant of any of claims 1-15.
 29. A laundry washing composition of claim 28, which additionally comprises another enzyme such as an amylase and/or another an amylolytic enzyme, such as glucoamylase, cellulase, CGTase, lipase, maltogenic amylase, mannanase, peroxidase, or protease.
 30. Use of a variant of any of claims 1-15 or a composition of any of claims 20-29 for washing and/or dishwashing.
 31. Use of a variant of any of claims 1-15 or a composition of any of claims 20-29 for textile desizing.
 32. Use of a variant of any of claims 1-15 or a composition of any of claims 20-29 for starch liquefaction.
 33. A method of producing a variant of a parent alpha-amylase having an altered property relative to the parent, wherein the parent alpha-amylase has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 13, or has a sequence at least 60% identity to said sequence, said method comprising: (a) modelling the parent alpha-amylase on the three-dimensional structure of SEQ ID NO: 4 depicted in the Appendix 1 to produce a three-dimensional structure of the parent alpha-amylase; (b) identifying in the three-dimensional structure obtained in step (a) at least one structural part of the parent wherein an alteration in said structural part is predicted to result in said altered property; (c) modifying the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding the parent alpha-amylase to produce a nucleic acid encoding a deletion, insertion, or substitution of one or more amino acids at a position corresponding to said structural part; and (d) expressing the modified nucleic acid in a host cell to produce the variant alpha-amylase; wherein the variant has alpha-amylase enzymatic activity and has at least one altered property relative to the parent.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the altered property is selected from the group consisting of substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, temperature stability, pH dependence of enzymatic activity, pH dependence of stability, stability towards oxidation, Ca²⁺-dependency, specific activity or altered solubility, preferably increased solubility.
 35. A method of constructing a variant of a parent alpha-amylase having an altered property relative to the parent, wherein the parent alpha-amylase has the sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 13 or has a sequence at least 60% identity to said sequence, said method comprising: (a) modelling the parent alpha-amylase on the three-dimensional structure of SEQ ID NO: 4 depicted in the Appendix 1 to produce a three-dimensional structure of the parent alpha-amylase; (b) comparing the three-dimensional structure obtained in step (a) with a three-dimensional structure of an unrelated alpha-amylase, wherein the unrelated alpha-amylase differs from the parent alpha-amylase in said property; (c) identifying a structural part of the three-dimensional structure obtained in step (a) which is different from the three-dimensional structure of the unrelated alpha-amylase and which is predicted to be relevant to said property; (d) modifying the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding the parent alpha-amylase to produce a nucleic acid encoding a deletion, insertion, or substitution of one or more amino acids at a position corresponding to said structural part; and (e) expressing the modified nucleic acid in a host cell to produce the variant alpha-amylase; wherein the variant has alpha-amylase activity and has one or more altered properties as compared to the parent alpha-amylase.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein, in step (d), the modification is a deletion, substitution, or insertion of one or more amino acid residues in the parent alpha-amylase so that the structural part in the variant corresponds to the structural part in the unrelated alpha-amylase.
 37. A method of increasing the solubility of polypeptide crystals, in particular enzyme crystals, wherein one or more amino acid residue(s) 1) located within a distance of 6.0 Å of a neighbouring enzyme molecule in the tertiary crystal structure, and 2) interacting with said neighbouring enzyme molecule, are mutated.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the amino acid residues to be mutated are located with 3.5 Å of a neighbouring enzyme.
 39. The method of claim 37 or 38, wherein the enzyme has amylase, carbohydrase, CGTase, glucoamylase, lipase, lyase, mannanase, maltogenic amylase, mannanase, oxidoreductase, protease, or transferase, activity.
 40. The method of claim 37, wherein the amylase is an alpha-amylase, such as Termamyl-like amylase.
 41. The method of any of claims 37-40, wherein the polypeptide is a protein having biological activity.
 42. The method of any of claims 37-41, wherein the polypeptide has antimicrobial activity.
 43. The method of any of claims 37-42, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group comprising: insulin, growth hormone, EPO, TPO, Factor VII, Factor VIII.
 44. A method of increasing the solubility of Termamyl-like alpha-amylase crystals, wherein one or more amino acid residue(s) 1) located within a distance of 6.0 Å of a neighbouring Termamyl-like alpha-amylase molecule in the tertiary crystal structure, and 2) interacting with said neighbouring Termamyl-like alpha-amylase molecule, are mutated.
 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the amino acid residues to be mutated are located with 3.5 Å of a neighbouring Termamyl-like alpha-amylase.
 46. The method of claim 44 or 45, wherein the crystal structure of SP722 depicted in APPENDIX 1 is used as a reference for determining the distance between neighbouring alpha-amylases.
 47. The method of any of claims 44-46, wherein the crystal structure is a structure modelled in accordance with any of claims 26-29 from of SP722 depicted in APPENDIX 1 is used as a reference for determining the distance between neighbouring alpha-amylases.
 48. The method of any of claims 44-47, wherein the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase include amylases selected from the group of alpha-amylase derived from a strain of B. iicheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. stearothermophilus, Bacillus sp. NCIB 12289, NCIB 12512, NCIB 12513 or DSM 9375, or DSMZ no. 12649, KSM AP1378, K38, K36.
 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase is any of the alpha-amylases selected from the group depicted in SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and
 13. 50. The method of any of claims 44-49, wherein the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase has an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to SEQ ID NO: 4 of at least 60%, preferably 70%, more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably at least about 90%, even more preferably at least 95%, even more preferably at least 97%, and even more preferably at least 99%.
 51. The method of any of claims 44-50, wherein the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence, which hydridizes under low, preferably medium, preferred high stringency conditions, with the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 11. 52. The method of any of claims 44-51, wherein the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase amino acid residues being less than 6.0 Å from the nearest neighbouring amylase molecule are the following (using SP722 numbering): 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 29, 53, 76, 84, 87, 90, 93, 94, 124, 125, 126, 128, 142, 144, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 193, 195, 196, 197, 209, 212, 226, 229, 256, 257, 258, 259, 280, 281, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 310, 311, 314, 319, 320, 321, 322, 341, 345, 405, 406, 408, 444, 447, 448, 449, 463, 464, 465, 466,
 467. 53. The method of any of claims 44-51, wherein the Termamyl-like alpha-amylase amino acid residues being less than 3.5 Å from the nearest neighbouring amylase molecule are the following (using SP722 numbering): 22, 25, 28, 76, 94, 125, 128, 158, 160, 171, 173, 174, 184, 189, 209, 226, 229, 298, 299, 302, 306, 310, 314, 320, 345, 405, 447,
 466. 